Tips For Driving After Cataract Surgery
Regardless of anything, driving can be done ONLY when you can see well AND feel comfortable. Even if your vision meets the driving requirement, you should still not drive until you also feel comfortable. .
But when you do resume driving, there are most likely going to be a few scenarios more challenging than others. So until your comfort level increases, you should avoid those challenging scenarios.
- Stick to familiar roads and routes. Avoid unfamiliar areas. Not only can you be more distracted by navigation devices, you also wont have a good awareness of visual landmarks in that area. This can make driving more difficult and dangerous until your comfort level is fully restored.
- Avoid bad weather. Now is not the time to go out driving in a torrential downpour. Visibility will be much more challenging and road conditions can become more dangerous.
- Night time driving can be more difficult. Again, it is much more difficult to see at night. And while you may very well have a large improvement in glare by no longer having a cataract, you may still have some glare and halos from the new artificial lens. This is especially the case with the premium lenses used to get out of glasses completely. It will take some time to fully adjust to this new vision.
How Long Will I See Halos After Cataract Surgery
This may last for a few days after your Cataract Surgery. Some patients report seeing some glare and halo around lights. These types of experiences are normal and will diminish each day until they are completely gone. It is important to be carefully following your surgeon’s instructions for the use of your eye drops.
Is Blurry Vision Normal After Cataract Surgery
Immediately following cataract surgery, it is, in fact, normal to have blurry vision. Many patients are back to their regular activities the day after cataract surgery. This applies to most activities except for driving. Driving isnt allowed until your cataract surgeon has okayed it.
During early recovery, patients will be able to see, but not in clear, but rather, soft vision. Within 48 hours, many cataracts patients see significant improvement in their vision.
It is possible that your vision could take one to two weeks to adjust and settle. The eye must adapt to the new intraocular lens that has replaced the lens. Every patient is different!
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Can I Drive Home From The Follow
That depends.
For the majority of cataract surgery patients, the eye doctor will say that they are fine to drive home on their own during daylight hours. This is if the patient is experiencing no visual fluctuations and no complications.
If you are noticing issues with your vision at this first follow-up visit, your surgeon will ask you to wait a day or so before getting back behind the wheel, if not longer.
Will I Still Need My Glasses After Surgery
If your surgeon fixed your cataracts using a standard fixed-focus or monofocal lens implant, you will need glasses for reading. You may also need glasses for looking over a long distance.
Alternatively, if you had a multifocal lens implant, your chances of needing glasses will be significantly reduced.
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How Long Will It Take For Your Eye To Recover
The cataract surgery recovery time will come in stages. You can expect to return to work within 1-3 days of surgery, but you shouldnt expect to have fully stabilized vision for at least a few weeks . Keep in mind, however, that vision imbalance is a separate issue. If you suffer from anisometropia, then the adjustment period may take a little longer than your recovery process.
After Cataract Surgery Its Wise Not To Rush Things
If you typically drive a car to get around, its only natural that you might be keen to know when you can safely start driving again after having conventional or laser cataract surgery.
Most people who have cataracts will need to have them removed from both eyes. However, your surgeon will most likely perform the surgery on different occasions, generally anywhere from 1 day to about 2 weeks apart.
This means your vision will be very different in one eye compared to the other for some time. In particular, depth perception can be markedly different, which can be challenging.
Therefore, if youre having cataract surgery the best advice is to wait until both eyes have been operated on before attempting to drive. The good news is that the recovery period is quite short, usually just a day or two. Some peoples eyes can be slightly swollen for a short time after the procedure if this is the case, you should wait for a full recovery before hitting the road.
For safetys sake, its wise to carefully consider if your vision has stabilised before driving again. If it hasnt fully recovered, an error of judgement could lead to significant consequences.
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How Soon After Cataract Surgery Can I Drive
Cataracts are an age-related ocular disorder. They begin forming in ones 40s due to the deterioration of the proteins in the eyes lens. These deteriorated proteins are no longer functional and begin to clump together, forming cloudy spots on the lens. These clouded areas block incoming light, gradually causing vision loss.
This vision loss can be total if the problem is left untreated, and cataracts are indeed the worlds leading cause of blindness. Yet the solutions offered at Kirk Eye Center are quick, effective, and time-tested. Laser cataract surgery can safely and virtually painlessly remove cataracts and the clouded lens, then replace it with a synthetic intraocular lens immune from future cataracts.
So, if youre suffering visual woes or have any concerns, please get in touch with us today so we can help protect your vision and eye health. Or feel free to drop in at our practices in River Forest, Gurnee, or Chicago, IL.
Things Not To Do After Cataract Surgery
Posted by:Georgia Eye Associates in Cataracts
Cataract surgery is a routine procedure for most surgeons. Since cataracts affect so many people, its common to need them removed.
In fact, cataract surgery is one of the most performed medical procedures in the country! Its proven as a safe and effective procedure.
But after you have your surgery, its important to be careful while you recover. If you dont let your eyes heal, you put your health at risk. Here are 7 things that you shouldnt do after cataract surgery:
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How Soon Can You Drive After Cataract Surgery
Most people would like to start driving as soon as possible after cataract surgery and often ask how soon they can start driving. The truth of the matter is there isn’t one answer and it depends on each patient’s recovery.
Generally, a follow-up appointment is scheduled a day or so after surgery. During this appointment, vision is assessed. If the eyes are recovering well, the patient may be cleared to drive.
With that said, patients should be prepared not to drive for at least 24 hours, and not until they are cleared by their doctor.
When Will I Go Back To Work
Blurry vision during your early recovery will affect your ability to return to work. Like driving, it depends on the individual patient on when they can return to work. If your vision is extremely blurry, it may be best to take a few extra days off of work.
Doing any kind of work with blurry vision will be difficult and may be dangerous. If your vision isnt blurry, its not uncommon for cataract patients to be able to go to work within a few days.
This does depend on the type of work involved. Office employees can return faster than those who work in dusty environments. Being in a dusty environment could be detrimental to your recovery efforts.
Do you have more questions about what to expect from cataract surgery? Schedule your consultation with Loden Vision Centers today!
Many thanks to Doctor Loden and his amazing staff! They made something that would otherwise be very intimidating very comforting. Their professionalism and service was off the charts. I am one day post surgery and am pain free and can see better than I have for twenty years. I would recommend them to anyone!
I am so thankful to Dr. Loden. My results from my LASIK surgery were instant. I don’t have hardly any vision distortion and it 1 day post surgery, it will just keep getting better each day. I see better now than I’ve ever been able to with glasses or contacts. I so recommend Dr. Loden!!!
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How Long After Cataract Surgery Can You Sleep On My Side
Cataract surgery should not affect how you sleep, aside from wearing the protective eye shield to avoid rubbing the eye. Rubbing your eye or even water splashing in your eye can aggravate the chances of infection. You may also want to avoid sleeping on the side of the operated eye for the first 24 hours.
What Are The Side Effects Of Cataract Surgery
Immediately after surgery, your eye will feel watery and slightly gritty dont worry, this is normal. Your vision will be a little blurred and your eye may also be sensitive to light and appear red or bloodshot.
It will take 24 hours for the drops used to dilate your pupils prior to surgery to wear off. Youll notice that your pupil will look larger than normal during this time. Your vision will also be blurred whilst youre waiting for the drops to wear off.
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When Can You Drive After Cataract Surgery
According to a paper published on the US National Library of Medicine, 1.65 million people undergo cataract operations in the North American region every year. With a 98 percent success rate across the country, cataract surgery is not only among the most common surgeries that American patients undergo, its also among the most successful.
With this many people undergoing the surgery, its important that there is enough information out there to help patients understand it better. If you or someone you know is getting cataract surgery in Indiana soon, this article will help you answer one of the most common, but underrated questions how soon can a patient drive after cataract surgery?
Cataract Surgery In Brief
Cataract surgery is a common eye operation designed to remove the hazy, opaque lens of the eye , replacing it with a clear artificial lens implant, known as an intraocular lens. In addition to removing the cloudy lens which had been blocking light from entering the eye, commonly, intraocular lenses may be calculated to correct according to your eyes prescription. The result is a reduced dependency on glasses and contact lenses. This may apply to long-distance vision only or, in the case of multifocal intraocular lenses, both far and near vision.
Cataract surgery is performed under topical or local anaesthetic rather than a general anaesthetic, which contributes to a lower risk of complications during the procedure as well as shortening the post-operative recovery time. The ophthalmologist creates an incision in the front surface of the eye called the cornea, breaks the cataract into smaller pieces, and removes it from the eye, before inserting the intraocular lens implant.
As with any surgical procedure, there are several cataract postsurgery guidelines that the ophthalmologist will recommend in order to minimise your risk of complications and optimise your recovery after your cataract surgery. These include:
- avoiding strenuous activity
- keeping the eye area clean
- avoiding dusty, dirty environments
- using prescription eye drop medication
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How Should I Sleep After Cataract Surgery
You will be provided with a protective shield for your eye that should be worn during sleep for at least the first week after your cataract surgery. This will help you avoid rubbing your eyes and/or causing an accidental injury to your eye while it is in the recovery phase. Aside from the eye shield, this procedure should not require any significant changes to your sleep routine. If you are a side sleeper, it may be beneficial for you to sleep on your non-operative side to help avoid applying any additional pressure as the eye heals. If eye pain or discomfort is affecting your sleep, you should address it with your doctor to help determine potential solutions or treatments.
The Do’s And Don’ts After Your Cataract Surgery:
Immediately after the procedure, your ophthalmologist will give you a list of things you can and cant do. Following their instructions is extremely important to ensuring a quick and successful recovery. Take their advice seriously and dont be scared to ask any questions along the way.
While everyones recovery period is different and your eye doctor will likely give you instructions specific to your eye, lets go over some of the general dos and donts following cataract surgery — starting with the things you can do:
- You can watch TV
- You can be on your computer
- You can shower or take a bath
- You can read a book
- You can go for a walk
- You should take your eye drops as directed
- You should take it easy for at least a few days
- You should be using your eye shield while you sleep
- You should wear sunglasses outside
- You should have someone drive you home after surgery
- You should rest if you feel tired
Now, lets take a look at some of the things you shouldnt do after your cataract surgery:
- Dont rub your eye
- Dont get soap or shampoo in your eye
- Dont drive until your doctor allows it
- Avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting
- Avoid swimming and hot tubs to prevent infection
- Dont wear eye makeup for at least a month
- Dont travel via an airplane
- Avoid sneezing or vomiting after surgery
- Avoid bending over after surgery to prevent pressure increase
- Avoid dusty areas to prevent getting irritants in the eye
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How Long Is The Cataract Surgery Recovery Period
The actual procedure generally only takes 15 minutes to complete, but your doctor will place you in a recovery area for around 30 minutes while the anesthesia wears off. Youll be asked to wear a protective eye shield for a few hours after the surgery and while you nap or sleep.
Although most people report clear vision a few hours after surgery, dont be alarmed if you notice blurry, distorted, or wavy vision. Its also common to notice red or bloodshot eyes as the eye heals. If these symptoms dont subside after a few days, report them to your eye doctor.
Expect to apply eye drops for the first few weeks after surgery. The entire recovery period generally takes anywhere from a few weeks to a full month. Since everyone heals differently, you should report your progress to your eye doctor and follow their recommendations closely.
Classification Criteria For Driver Self
Four driving situations were obtained from the self-reported DHQ which could be directly compared to the information obtained from the in-vehicle monitoring device. These four situations were used to classify participants as either self-regulating or non-self-regulating their driving in each situation. These situations included driving on highways/freeways, on heavy traffic roads, in peak hour traffic and night time driving. Initially, each of the four driving situations were examined separately to determine if participants self-regulated their driving in that situation. For example, participants were considered to have self-regulated their driving if they responded that they had not driven at night time based on information from the DHQ and the data from the in-vehicle monitoring device confirmed the same behaviour. Then all four driving situations were examined together and participants were classified as a self-regulator if they self-regulated their driving behaviour in at least one of the four driving situations. Otherwise, they were considered to be a non self-regulator.
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The Definition Of Cataracts
Cataracts are an age-related condition, often affecting people over the age of 55. In most cases, when cataracts do begin to develop, they affect both eyes. It is possible for your vision to seem worse in one eye than the other.
A cataract is a clumping of proteins in the eye. When an eye is healthy, these proteins get spread out. When cataracts form, proteins gather in the center of the eye. It may take several years for symptoms to appear after a cataract has developed.
When symptoms do start to affect you, surgery is not the first step. Early symptoms are treatable with prescription eyeglasses. When your vision becomes too obstructed for daily activities, its time for the next step. The only way to permanently treat cataracts is with cataract surgery.
Although you can slow down their development, cataracts are not preventable. With cataract surgery, your natural lens gets replaced with an IOL.
Can I Drive Home After Cataract Surgery On One Eye
For the majority of cataract surgery patients, the eye doctor will say that they are fine to drive home on their own during daylight hours. This is if the patient is experiencing no visual fluctuations and no complications.
Can you see the day after cataract surgery?
After cataract surgery, expect your vision to begin improving within a few days. Your vision may be blurry at first as your eye heals and adjusts. Colors may seem brighter after your surgery because you are looking through a new, clear lens.
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What Is The Typical Cataract Surgery Recovery Time
The recovery time after cataract operation will vary depending on the individuals circumstances. Do not be alarmed if your recovery time differs to a family member or friends recovery time.
Common post-operative symptoms include: