Care - Caring for your eye after cataract surgery

You’ll need to take good care of your eye after cataract surgery to allow it to heal fully, without any complications. 

After your cataract surgery, you’ll be given some eye drops to help your eye heal and prevent infection. You should use these drops for four weeks, unless otherwise directed by your optometrist. 

Before using your eye drops and touching the bottle they’re contained in, you’ll need to wash your hands thoroughly. Then remove the cap on the bottle, tilt your head backwards, and gaze towards the ceiling, trying not to blink. Carefully pull down your lower eyelid with your free hand and then squeeze the bottle until the prescribed number of drops have entered your eye. Try not to touch your eye or eyelid with the bottle. Once you have put the eye drops in, you should blink a few times to disperse them around your eye, then close your eye and wipe away any excess fluid with a clean tissue or flannel. 

In addition to your eye drops, your surgeon will give you further advice for care of your eye following cataract surgery. 

You’ll be given an eye shield to wear overnight after your surgery – you can remove this the morning after your op. You’ll also be advised on how long it will be before you can drive or wear contact lenses (if applicable) and why it’s necessary to avoid bending down or doing strenuous exercise for a week or so after surgery. 

It’s normal for your eye to be red, gritty, itchy and to have some clear discharge after your cataract surgery. Any discomfort will likely only last around a week and full healing will usually take between two and six weeks.