How Long Should You Wait After Cataract Surgery to Get Back to Normal?

Cataracts are a fairly common eye problem, becoming increasingly likely as people age. Luckily, they're rarely anything to worry about, and surgery is normally a quick, simple procedure that gets your vision back to normal with minimal fuss.

Because of its straightforward nature, people don't always take cataract surgery as seriously as they should. That's not to say it's anything you need to worry about, but it's important to take a bit of care afterwards. In particular, there are some activities that should be avoided during the time after your cataract operation.

You'll want to know how long you need to wait until you can start getting back to normal, so follow the guidelines below for these activities.

Swimming

No matter how careful you are, there's a chance water will get into your eyes. Even the smallest amount can harbour enough bacteria to cause you serious problems while your eye is healing, so it's important to avoid it completely. As long as the healing process has been normal, you can resume swimming after two weeks, but wearing goggles for a further two helps ensure you won't damage your eyes.

Driving

Because your vision will be affected immediately following surgery, you shouldn't drive until at last a day has passed. However, you should use your judgement and err on the side of caution if there are any lingering visual effects. Make sure you have someone to drive you home after your surgery.

Heavy lifting

Lifting heavy objects causes a lot of strain and pressure, which can set back the eye's healing and cause infections. You should ideally wait a month before doing any sort of heavy lifting, and consult with a doctor before you do. If this affects your job, make sure your employer is aware in advance.

Exercise

Some forms of exercise can be resumed after a few days, as long as they're gentle. Avoid high-impact sports, running and weight lifting for a month. Before resuming any type of exercise, talk to your doctor to check whether or not it's safe to do so.

Reading

If you're a book lover, you'll be pleased to know that you'll be able to carry on reading as soon as you can see clearly enough to do so. Although it should be a safe activity, pay attention to your eyes, and keep reading sessions relatively short to reduce strain. If reading causes any extra discomfort or pain, stop immediately and tell your doctor.