If the operation has been performed under local anaesthetic, after surgery the patient is moved to a quiet area to recover from the effects of sedation. Most patients are then ready to leave for home within a few hours. Some patients may require more pain relief and are encouraged to see their ophthalmologist. Within a number of days the ophthalmologist will examine the eye.
Recovery is usually quick.
Soon after surgery most people notice their vision has improved although glasses are still needed for reading. If the operation has been an extracapsular extraction then inflammation from the operation may take several days or weeks to settle down. Vision may remain hazy or cloudy during that time but slowly improve over the next three months. Typically, lights will appear intense shortly after the operation and during this time sunglasses may be worn. After the eye has healed and adjusted to the intraocular lens for several weeks, the eye is tested again and a new prescription for galsses may be needed.