Recovery – How long does it take to recover after cataract surgery?

It typically takes around 4-6 weeks to make a complete recovery from cataract surgery. 

On the day of your surgery, you can expect your appointment to last for around 2-3 hours. Cataract surgery itself is a straightforward procedure that only takes around ten minutes to complete, but you’ll spend some time before your operation waiting for your eye to dilate and your anaesthetic eye drops to take effect. You’ll also see the nurse after your surgery, who will let you know how to take care of your eye when you go home.  

You’ll be provided with a plastic eye-shield, which should be worn overnight and can be removed the morning after your surgery. You can expect the anaesthetic eye drops to wear off within a few hours, but it may take a few days for your vision to fully return. 

For the first few days after cataract surgery, it’s normal to have blurred vision, double vision, watery and/or gritty eyes, or red or bloodshot eyes. These side effects will normally go away within a few days, but it can take 4-6 weeks for your eye to completely heal and for you to make a full recovery.