Your Cataract Surgery Journey
From your first consultation to surgery, recovery and getting back to normal life
Once I have diagnosed a cataract, one of the first questions patients ask me is:
“What happens next?”
I think surgery feels much less daunting when you know exactly what to expect.
There are several steps before we ever enter the operating theatre — checking the health of your eyes, making sure the surface of the eye is healthy, taking accurate measurements, choosing your lens implant and arranging surgery around your life.
And my care of your eye certainly doesn't end when the operation is over.
This is the journey I usually take with my cataract patients at The Eye Clinic.
01 — Your Cataract Consultation
The first step is to establish whether you have a cataract and whether it is actually responsible for the changes you are noticing in your vision.
I don't recommend cataract surgery simply because a cataract is present.
I want to understand how well you are seeing, what is bothering you and how your vision is affecting your everyday life.
If I think cataract surgery would benefit you, we then move on to planning it properly.
02 — I Check the Health of Your Eyes
Before choosing a lens implant, I want to know that the rest of your eye is healthy.
We take scans and photographs to assess important structures including your retina and optic nerve.
I also look carefully at the surface of your eye for dry eye and an unstable tear film.
This matters more than many patients realise.
Dry eye can affect both the quality of your vision and the accuracy of the measurements we use to calculate the power of your cataract lens.
If the surface isn't healthy enough, I would rather treat it first and repeat the measurements.
I would rather take a little more time before surgery than operate using measurements I don't completely trust.
[WHY DRY EYE MATTERS BEFORE CATARACT SURGERY →]
03 — Measuring Your Eyes for Your New Lens
Once I am happy with the health and surface of your eye, we take the measurements needed to calculate your intraocular lens, or IOL.
We measure the eye very precisely to determine the power of the lens implant and whether astigmatism needs to be corrected.
This is also where our conversation about how you would like to see becomes particularly important.
Do you want excellent distance vision and don't mind putting on reading glasses?
Do you spend much of your day at a computer?
Do you drive frequently at night?
Would you like to reduce your dependence on glasses?
There isn't one “best” cataract lens for everybody.
The lens is chosen for your eye — but also for how you live your life.
[LEARN ABOUT CATARACT LENS OPTIONS →]
04 — We Order Your Lens Implant
Once we have completed your measurements and chosen your lens, we order the implant for you.
How quickly we can proceed depends partly on the availability of your particular lens.
Some lenses can arrive within one day.
If your lens needs to be specially ordered or manufactured, it may take up to approximately one month.
We will let you know the expected timing so that we can plan your surgery around it.
05 — Planning Cataract Surgery Around Your Life
I operate every day except Sunday, so we usually have considerable flexibility when arranging your surgery.
Tell me about your work.
Tell me if you have a holiday coming up.
Tell me if you are travelling.
I don't believe your life should have to revolve unnecessarily around cataract surgery.
Where possible, we plan the surgery around you.
06 — One Eye or Both Eyes?
Most of the time, I perform cataract surgery one eye at a time.
In selected patients, both eyes may be operated on at the same sitting.
The right approach depends on your eyes, your health, the lenses we are using and your individual circumstances.
We will discuss this together before scheduling your surgery.
Preparing for Cataract Surgery
07 — If You Are Having Sedation
Most of my patients choose to have their cataract surgery under sedation.
If you are having sedation, there are a few important things to remember.
Fasting
Do not eat anything after 10pm on the night before your surgery.
When you wake on the morning of surgery, do not drink water or other fluids, unless your surgical or anaesthetic team has specifically instructed you otherwise.
This fasting is important for your safety during sedation.
Your usual medications
Most of your regular medications should be taken as usual, according to the instructions we give you.
If you take diabetes medication, please let us know. Your medication may need to be adjusted or withheld while you are fasting, and we will give you specific instructions.
If you are uncertain about any medication, please ask us rather than changing it yourself.
What should I wear?
Come comfortably dressed.
Please don't wear makeup around your eyes, and leave expensive jewellery and valuables at home.
You don't need to dress for the occasion.
Comfort and practicality are much more important.
08 — Arriving for Your Surgery
Please arrive at the surgical centre approximately two hours before your scheduled operation.
The cataract operation itself is relatively short, but we need time beforehand to register you, prepare your eye, administer the necessary eye drops and get you comfortably ready for surgery.
You can come to the surgical centre on your own.
However, if you have had sedation, you must not drive yourself home afterwards.
Please arrange for someone to accompany you or take you home once you are ready for discharge.
The Day of Cataract Surgery
09 — What Happens During the Operation?
Cataract surgery is performed as day surgery.
Most of my patients choose sedation because they prefer to be relaxed and have little or no awareness of what is happening during the procedure.
Local anaesthesia is also used so that the operation itself should not be painful.
During surgery, I remove the cloudy natural lens through a very small incision and replace it with the intraocular lens we have carefully selected for you.
The actual operation usually takes me about 11 minutes.
You will spend longer at the surgical centre because of the preparation beforehand and the time needed to make sure you are comfortable afterwards.
Once everything is satisfactory and you have recovered appropriately from your sedation, you can go home.
After Cataract Surgery
10 — Your Eye Drops & Looking After Your Eye
Your eye needs medication while it heals.
You will usually use prescription eye drops for approximately one month.
For the first two weeks, the drops are usually used approximately six times a day.
For the following two weeks, this usually reduces to approximately four times a day.
We will give you your exact schedule and show you how to use your eye drops correctly.
I also give my patients lid wipes and teach them how to keep their eyelids and eyelashes clean without rubbing or disturbing the operated eye.
Where appropriate, I may also recommend an omega-3 supplement as part of your postoperative ocular-surface care.
Your vision may initially be slightly hazy or blurred while the eye settles.
Most importantly:
Don't rub your eye.
And if something doesn't feel right, I would much rather you contact us and ask.
11 — Can I Use My Phone, Laptop or Watch Television?
Yes.
You can use your mobile phone, laptop, tablet, read and watch television after cataract surgery as soon as you feel comfortable doing so.
Using a screen will not damage the operated eye.
Your vision may still be settling and your eye may tire more easily initially, so take a break when you feel you need one.
You don't need to avoid screens simply because you have had cataract surgery.
12 — When Can I Go Back to Work?
For many patients, surprisingly quickly.
If your work is mainly office-based, you can usually return relatively soon.
If you would prefer some time to rest after your surgery, I normally give one to two days of hospitalisation leave.
If your job involves heavy physical work, dust, soil, dirty water or a risk of injury to the eye, I may recommend a little more time away or temporary modification of your duties.
13 — Showering & Washing Your Hair
Yes, you can shower and wash your hair after cataract surgery.
You don't need to spend two weeks frightened of water.
Just be sensible around the operated eye.
Avoid rubbing the eye and be careful when washing around it while it is healing.
14 — Skincare, Eye Makeup & Eyelash Extensions
You can continue using your usual face cream, eye cream and sunblock.
Apply them gently and avoid rubbing or pressing on the operated eye.
For the first two weeks, however, I prefer you not to use eye makeup.
That means no:
Mascara
Eyeliner
Eyeshadow
False eyelashes
Eyelash extensions
Please also don't have new eyelash extensions applied during this period.
Keeping your eyelashes clean
This is something I pay particular attention to.
I give my patients lid wipes and teach them how to clean along the eyelashes properly while the eye is healing.
Keeping the eyelids and lashes clean helps us maintain a healthy ocular surface without rubbing or disturbing the operated eye.
Getting Back to Normal Life
15 — Exercise After Cataract Surgery
For the first two weeks, I want you to protect the eye while it heals.
You don't have to sit at home doing nothing.
Activities I generally prefer during the early recovery period include:
Walking
Brisk walking
Easy cycling
Elliptical training
Light running, when appropriate
For two weeks, please avoid:
Heavy weightlifting
Activities involving significant straining
Combat or contact sports
Swimming
Water sports
Hot yoga
Saunas
Activities that risk getting soil or dirty water into your eye
Your recovery is individual, so I may modify these instructions depending on your eye and how it is healing.
16 — Can I Fly After Cataract Surgery?
For most patients after uncomplicated cataract surgery, flying itself is not usually a problem.
The more important consideration is making sure your postoperative checks are not missed.
If you have a holiday or flight coming up, tell me before we schedule your operation.
We can then plan the surgery and your follow-up appointments around your travel.
17 — Can I Drive After Cataract Surgery?
You must not drive yourself home after surgery if you have had sedation.
When you return to driving afterwards depends on how well you are seeing and how your eye is recovering.
I would rather check your vision and advise you individually than give every patient the same number of days.
Your Follow-Up
18 — I Like to Follow My Cataract Patients Closely
The operation may only take around 11 minutes.
My care of your eye doesn't end when you leave the operating theatre.
I would usually see you:
3 days after surgery
1 week after surgery
2 weeks after surgery
1 month after surgery
2 months after surgery
3 months after surgery
These appointments allow me to check that your eye is healing properly, monitor your vision and deal with any concerns as the eye settles.
What Should I Expect After Cataract Surgery?
Some blurring or haziness can occur initially as your eye settles.
Your eye may also feel slightly irritated or different from normal during the early recovery period.
What matters is the direction things are going.
If you experience significant or increasing pain, a sudden deterioration in vision, increasing redness, new flashes or a sudden increase in floaters, or a curtain or shadow in your vision, please contact us promptly.
And if you simply aren't sure whether something is normal:
Call us.
I would much rather you ask than sit at home worrying about your eye.
Your Cataract Surgery Journey at a Glance
Consultation
Diagnose the cataract and decide whether surgery is appropriate.
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Check the health of your eyes
Retina, optic nerve and ocular surface.
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Treat dry eye if necessary
Get the surface healthy before final measurements.
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Measure your eyes
Calculate lens power and measure astigmatism.
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Choose your lens
Match your lens to your eyes and the way you would like to see.
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Order your lens
Some lenses arrive within a day. Specially ordered lenses may take up to approximately one month.
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Choose your surgery date
Where possible, we work around your work, travel and holidays.
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Prepare for surgery
Fasting and medication instructions if you are having sedation.
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Cataract surgery
Usually one eye at a time. The actual operation usually takes me around 11 minutes.
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Go home the same day
Arrange transport home if you have had sedation.
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Protect your eye while it heals
Eye drops for approximately one month, lid hygiene and temporary restrictions on certain activities.
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Back to everyday life
Phones, computers, reading and television can be used straight away if comfortable. Office work can usually resume relatively quickly.
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Follow-up with me
3 days → 1 week → 2 weeks → 1 month → 2 months → 3 months.
Considering Cataract Surgery?
You don't need to know which lens you want before you come to see me.
And you certainly don't need to arrive having already decided to have surgery.
First, let us find out why your vision has changed.
If it is a cataract and I think surgery would help you, I will take you through the choices, the surgery and your recovery one step at a time.
Dr Cheryl Lee
Ophthalmologist & Cataract Surgeon
The Eye Clinic by Dr Cheryl Lee, Singapore