If you’ve been experiencing blurry vision, increased sensitivity to light, or seeing halos around lights while driving because of your cataracts, you’re probably looking forward to the crisp, clear vision you’ll get to enjoy once again after cataract surgery. Once you’re healed, you’ll no longer have to worry about cataracts impacting your ability to read street signs, see other cars around you, or navigate new environments.
However, you may be wondering how long you have to wait after your procedure before you can get back out on the road. Keep reading to learn more about when you can drive after cataract surgery.
What are Cataracts?
Cataracts are an eye condition that occurs when protein and fiber particles from the natural lens of the eye begin to deteriorate and clump together. As these clumps accumulate, they cover more and more of the lens, preventing light from entering the eye and impairing vision.
Most often, cataracts result from aging. As you get older, the natural lens of the eye becomes thicker and less flexible, causing its tissue to change and break down.
What are the Symptoms of Cataracts?
Cataracts typically develop slowly, and it might take years before you notice symptoms affecting your vision. While the most common sign of cataracts is cloudy vision, other signs and symptoms include:
- Sensitivity to bright light and glare
- Trouble seeing in low light environments and at night
- Halos around light
- Frequent changes to your prescription
- Changes in color perception
- Double vision in one eye
- Difficulty driving at night
What is Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is a quick, outpatient procedure that typically takes less than thirty minutes to complete. While glasses and contacts can sometimes help improve your vision early on, if you’ve been diagnosed with cataracts, you will eventually need cataract surgery to prevent your vision from getting worse.
During the procedure, your cataract surgeon removes the natural lens of the eye that is clouded with cataracts and replaces it with a clear intraocular lens (IOL), also called a lens implant. Once the IOL is implanted, it provides long-lasting clear vision and prevents cataracts from reforming.
What are Lens Implants?
IOLs, or lens implants, replace the natural lens and can also act as corrective lenses after cataract surgery, improving common vision issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The Eye Center offers multiple lens implant packages, including the Enhanced Distance Package, Toric Package, Optimized Intermediate Package, and Multifocal Vision Package.
At your cataract surgery consultation before the procedure, your eye doctor will help you choose the right IOL for you, depending on your visual needs, medical history, and lifestyle. They will also give you suggestions on how to prepare for your surgery.
You will not be able to drive yourself home after undergoing cataract surgery, so arranging for transportation to and from your eye surgeon’s office is necessary to prepare for your procedure.
What to Expect After Cataract Surgery
For the first few days after cataract surgery, you can expect to experience some mild side effects, including blurry vision, dryness, redness, watering, and soreness. You will be prescribed eye drops, which need to be used as directed to manage inflammation and prevent infection.
Taking care of your eye and following your surgeon’s post-operative instructions is vital for a healthy recovery after cataract surgery. To prevent complications, you should take the following precautions:
- Don’t touch, rub, or press on your eye
- Avoid getting water in or near your eye
- Use an eye shield when you sleep
- Don’t do any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise
- Avoid bending over as it puts extra unwanted pressure on the eye
- Protect your eye from exposure to UV light
- Don’t use any makeup or lotion around your eye
Attending all of your follow-up appointments is equally essential for a healthy recovery. These appointments allow your cataract surgeon to monitor your recovery and track improvements in the clarity of your vision.
You may notice visual improvements immediately after your procedure, but recovery time typically varies from patient to patient. By the end of the first month after surgery, most people have experienced significant improvement in their vision.
When Can I Drive After Cataract Surgery?
As you recover from cataract surgery, you should wait until your eye doctor clears you to engage in activities like driving, strenuous exercise, and swimming. They will need to assess the progress of your recovery and the quality of your vision before giving you the go-ahead.
Most patients are told they can resume driving at their first follow-up appointment the next day. While driving after cataract surgery, you can expect to read road signs more clearly, experience fewer halos and glares around streetlamps, and see better in low-light environments.
Depending on the IOL you choose, you may even be able to enjoy better vision than you ever had before.
Drive with Confidence Again after Cataract Surgery
Cataracts can cloud and impair vision, making it difficult to engage in everyday activities like driving. Luckily, cataract surgery is a quick, safe procedure that restores clear vision and the ability to live (and drive) independently.
By following your eye doctor’s instructions and attending your follow-up appointments during the recovery process, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of clearer vision and safely return to the driver’s seat in no time!
Do you want to learn more about cataract surgery recovery? Schedule an appointment at The Eye Center in Greenfield or Athol, MA, today!