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After Cataract Surgery
General recovery education after cataract surgery.
Medical disclaimer
This guidance is general patient education. Always follow the specific instructions given by your own surgeon or eye doctor — they take priority over anything on this page.
Do
- Follow the surgeon’s written instructions.
- Use prescribed drops exactly as directed.
- Keep follow-up appointments.
- Wash your hands before using the drops.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors if light-sensitive.
- Do not let water enter your eye for 14 days after surgery or an eye procedure unless your doctor gives you different instructions.
- During showering or face washing, you may use protective waterproof goggles, such as swimming or diving-style goggles, to help prevent water from entering the eye. Make sure they do not press hard on the eye.
Don't
- Do not rub or press on the eye.
- Do not get water, soap, shampoo, conditioner, or face wash in the eye.
- Do not swim until the surgeon says it is safe.
- Do not use hot tubs or pools until cleared.
- Do not skip prescribed drops.
- Do not drive until cleared and vision is safe.
- Do not expose the eye to dust, trauma, or pressure.
- Do not let the eye drop bottle tip touch your eyelashes, eyelids, eye surface, fingers, skin, or any surface. Touching the bottle tip can contaminate the drops.
About your eye drops
- Wash your hands before using the drops.
- Gently pull down the lower eyelid to form a small pocket.
- Do not let the eye drop bottle tip touch your eyelashes, eyelids, eye surface, fingers, skin, or any surface. Touching the bottle tip can contaminate the drops.
- Close the eye gently, then close the bottle immediately.
Water & washing
- Do not let water enter your eye for 14 days after surgery or an eye procedure unless your doctor gives you different instructions.
- During showering or face washing, keep the eye closed and avoid direct water, soap, shampoo, or face wash entering the eye.
- During showering or face washing, you may use protective waterproof goggles, such as swimming or diving-style goggles, to help prevent water from entering the eye. Make sure they do not press hard on the eye.
Normal things you may notice
- Mild scratchiness
- Mild watering
- Mild light sensitivity
- Mild blurry vision that improves gradually
- Mild redness
Warning signs — contact the clinic urgently
- Sudden vision loss
- Severe or increasing eye pain
- Worsening redness
- Pus-like discharge
- New flashes or many floaters
- Curtain or shadow in vision
- Water, soap, shampoo, or dirty water entered the eye and symptoms worsen
- Eye trauma, strong rubbing, or pressure to the eye
When to call the clinic
- If pain becomes severe.
- If vision gets worse instead of better.
- If redness or discharge increases.
- If flashes, floaters, or a shadow appear.
- If water, soap, shampoo, or chemicals entered the eye.
- If the eye was rubbed strongly, bumped, pressed, or injured.
- If the eye drop bottle tip touched eyelashes or another surface and the eye becomes more red, painful, swollen, or has discharge.
Have questions about your eyes?
This information is general education and does not replace a professional eye examination. If you are worried about your eyes, book an appointment.