Cataracts

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Question:
What can I expect to occur after cataract surgery? I have heard horror stories and I am a little uneasy about the surgery.

Answer:
In the vast majority of cases, the postoperative course is very comfortable, so discomfort should be minimal. Most patients don't require pain medications and at most have a slight foreign body feeling from the incision which usually clears in a few hours. The vision the next day can be excellent or at times cloudy, depending on the amount of swelling (edema) in the cornea. This swelling usually clears in a few days, and most patients see quite well in a few days. Patients with mild cataracts generally have very little swelling. Very dense cataracts require more energy to remove, and this can produce more swelling in the cornea.

Answered by: James Salz, MD

Categories: Eye Diseases, Cataracts, Eye Surgery

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