Did you know that cataract surgery is one of the safest surgeries you can have? This is particularly true when Elmquist Eye Group, the best cataract surgeons near Bonita Springs, Florida, perform the surgery. Patient recovery is typically uneventful as long as you follow our physicians’ post-op instructions.
What is the surgery like?
Cataract surgery usually takes about 10 minutes to perform. If you have other complications, it might take a bit longer. Patients can have cataracts in one or both eyes. We perform cataract surgery in only one eye at a time, so once your first eye is thoroughly healed, we can perform surgery on the other eye.
After the surgery is done, we ask that you rest for about an hour in our state-of-the-art facility. We want to make sure that you properly recover from the anesthesia. After an hour, a family member or friend can drive you home from the procedure. We’ll give you sunglasses to wear on the ride home to protect your eyes from sunlight glare, and once you get home, we ask that you rest and sleep as much as possible. We will tape an eye shield over your eye for added protection. You can usually remove the shield after several hours, but we ask that you wear it at night or during naps for several days while you recover from the surgery.
What will my vision be like?
When you first remove the eye shield, your vision will likely be blurry or clouded, but don’t worry. This is completely normal. It does take some time for your vision to adjust to the cataract removal. Over time, the eye and brain both adapt to the intraocular lens implant. While your eyes adjust, your vision may be somewhat distorted. Some patients report seeing wavy lines, but this usually only lasts an hour or so. Your eyes may be a bit red due to temporary small blood vessel damage, but the redness soon dissipates as your eyes heal, usually within several days.
Most patients experience dry eye or a scratchy feeling as the eye heals, however these symptoms usually quickly subside. Many of our patients are astounded at how clear their vision is several hours after surgery. Patients also report how vibrant colors are, not realizing how much their cataracts have muted bright colors. Every patient is different and therefore has a different healing profile. Some patients recover in a couple of days while others may need a week or two to have sharp vision. Be patient and follow your surgeon’s guidelines for the best healing result.
Follow Up Appointments
Post-surgical appointments are a key part of your recovery from cataract surgery. The day after the procedure, we will schedule a follow-up appointment so that the surgeon can check your healing progress and make sure there are no complications.
In the days following your surgery, feel free to call our staff with any questions or concerns you have. If your vision does not seem to be improving and remains blurry, please give us a call. Likewise, call us if you are experiencing any pain or discomfort.
In about one month, your eyes will be fully healed from the cataract surgery. We will schedule as many follow-up appointments as are needed to make sure your eyes are healing properly. Following the post-surgery protocol is important, but so is having an expert eye care surgeon. Elmquist Eye Group has the best cataract surgeons near Bonita Springs, Florida. Give us a call today. We are ready for you to be our next new patient.