Your pupils may stay dilated for a week or longer following cataract surgery, depending on the type of IOL you have placed. You will need to apply pupil-constricting eye drops at this period until your pupils recover to normal size. Pupil contraction caused by the drug bupivacaine can remain for several days. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 15 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts. The most common form of treatment is cataract removal followed by replacement of the lens with an artificial one. The procedure is called phacoemulsification. Cataract surgery is performed under local anesthesia (numbing agent) with sedation when necessary. Patients are usually able to return to work within a few days and to regular activities within a week. Dilated pupils are caused by bupivacaine, a medication used during the procedure. Pupils normally constrict to allow more light into the eye but they do not fully close because bupivacaine prevents this reaction. The effect lasts for about seven days, which is why patients' eyes are kept closed for this time frame. It is important to remember that although cataracts cause vision problems, they do not necessarily lead to blindness.