It’s cloudy vision and other symptoms that cause people to get cataract surgery. Another question worth asking is if it is normal to have blurry vision after the procedure? Read on to learn more!
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, it’s 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.
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 isn’t 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!
When Can I Drive?
It’s different for every patient. This means that it is not possible to give a simple answer that is concrete in all cases.
Most patients are allowed to drive two days after cataract surgery. This depends completely on how clear your vision is! If you don’t feel comfortable driving, it’s okay to wait.
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 isn’t blurry, it’s 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!
