Published on 20 October 2025
Cataract surgery is a routine procedure with a high success rate, but proper post-operative care is essential for a smooth recovery. We asked our expert Ophthalmic Surgeons for their recommendations on what to do immediately following your surgery - and for the first week of recovery.
What do I need to do straight after cataract surgery?
Following the procedure, the most important thing to do is rest as much as possible. We’d recommend making sure that there's somebody to take care of you and to help in the 24 hours following your operation.
Immediately after surgery, we’ll place a plastic shield over the eye, which you should leave on for the rest of the day and remove the next morning. You should wear it for a further two nights to protect the eye while sleeping.
We’ll also provide drops to use from the day after your surgery to help your eye settle down and keep it clean. Your discharge nurse will provide instructions on how to best take care of the eye and how to avoid any problems.
How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery?
Following your operation, your vision will still be very blurry, and your pupils will appear dilated. Your vision should start improving the day after the operation; usually when you wake up the next morning, you'll notice a significant improvement.
The eye will take about four weeks to heal completely, and your vision should continue to improve during that time.
Will my eyes look different after cataract surgery?
Your eyes won't look different after cataract surgery. At first, the eye might seem a little red, but this won't last long.
When can I wear eye makeup after cataract surgery?
We’d advise not to wear any makeup on the day of your surgery, and not to wear any makeup on the face - other than lipstick - for four weeks after the operation. This is because the tiny particles in some cosmetics can get into the eye and cause a delay to the healing process.
How soon after cataract surgery can I bend over?
We’d recommend not bending over for two weeks after your operation, to avoid accidently catching or hitting the operated eye. If you do need to bend down, you should do so carefully.
How soon after cataract surgery can I exercise?
Similarly to bending over, we’d recommend not doing any strenuous exercise for two weeks and no contact sports or swimming for four weeks after your operation. In addition, gyms often aren’t sterile environments and transferring bacteria from a piece of gym equipment into your eye could cause complications. However, we’d encourage you to continue with gentle exercising, such as walking, which won't harm or hurt the eye.
Should I wear my old glasses after cataract surgery?
After your cataract surgery, your vision will change, and your old glasses may no longer suit your needs. This is because the lens inside your eye has been replaced, and your prescription will need updating once your vision has fully settled.
While you're waiting to see your Optician for a new prescription (usually around four to six weeks after surgery), here are a few options to help you manage:
- If you've had surgery in one eye only, you can temporarily remove the lens from your glasses on the operated side. This allows you to benefit from your improved vision in that eye while still using the other lens to see clearly with your untreated eye
- If your vision feels comfortable without glasses, you may choose to stop wearing them altogether until your optician advises otherwise
- If your old glasses feel uncomfortable or cause blurry vision, it's best to avoid wearing them. Over-the-counter reading glasses may help if you need support for close-up tasks
Your Optician will guide you on the best solution once your vision has stabilised. In the meantime, take care of your eyes and follow any post-operative advice from your Surgeon.
How soon after cataract surgery can I return to work?
This will depend on the type of work you do and how long you need to take off. If your job involves physical work, where you must bend or lift, we’d advise taking two weeks off. We can provide a sick note for your employer.
If you have a desk job, and you feel comfortable looking at a computer screen, you might feel happy to start earlier.
How soon after cataract surgery can I drive?
How soon you can return to driving depends on the strength of your glasses pre-cataract surgery. If you're very short-sighted or very long-sighted, you might find it awkward to have one eye that sees well and one eye where the vision is still improving.
However, if you can read a number plate at 20 meters (according to DVLA guidelines), then you can drive within a week. You should also check that you’re covered by your insurance if you want to drive.
Can I fly after cataract surgery?
Flying post-treatment isn’t an issue, however we’d advise you to not go far, or to leave the country in the first two weeks after surgery in case you run into any problems or need help with anything. It is much easier to be close to the hospital and in your own environment rather than away from home.
How long should be left between cataract surgery on each eye?
We’d recommend leaving about four weeks between each cataract surgery to let the first eye settle down before we do the second eye. We might suggest a shorter gap if the difference between the two eyes has an impact on your day-to-day life.
We will occasionally do a surgery earlier and if, for any reason, we feel that the first eye needs to settle down a bit more, we will extend that time.
Book your cataract surgery consultation
Discover why you should choose Benenden Hospital for your cataract surgery and start your journey to clearer vision by taking our cataract assessment quiz. Book your initial consultation online or by calling our Private Patient team on 01580 363158.