Driving – Can you drive after cataract surgery?

To be able to drive after cataract surgery, or indeed at all, you must meet the DVLA’s visual standards for driving. Your optician will be able to give you a visual acuity test (where they’ll assess your ability to read letters off a chart from a specific distance) and a visual field test (where they’ll check your peripheral vision from the side, above, and below). You’ll also need to be able to read a number plate from at least 20 metres away (with the assistance of glasses or contact lenses, where necessary). In general, you should be able to do all these things again within 24 hours of cataract surgery. 

However, some patients will need to have new prescription glasses or contact lenses to be able to drive after cataract surgery. In most cases, it’s advisable that you wait four weeks, so your eye is fully recovered, before having an eye test to get new glasses. 

If you’re having cataract surgery on both your eyes and are between operations, dependent on the severity of the remaining cataract, you may be advised that it’s safe for you to drive, but ensure you seek advice from your optician before doing so.