If you’re considering cataract surgery, you’re not alone—millions of people undergo the procedure each year with excellent results. Still, it’s natural to have questions or concerns. Understanding the basics of cataracts, what surgery involves, and the choices you’ll need to make can help you feel more confident and prepared.*

What Cataracts Are and How Surgery Works

A cataract isn’t a growth on your eye—it’s a clouding of your eye’s natural lens. Think of it like looking through frosted glass or murky water. As light struggles to pass through the cloudy lens, your vision becomes blurred. 

By the time you’re 80, there’s a good chance you’ll have developed cataracts, just like more than half of Americans in that age group.

Cataract surgery is usually quick and painless. It’s done on an outpatient basis, meaning you’ll go home the same day. You’ll be sedated but awake. After your eye is numbed and dilated, the surgeon will:

• Make a tiny incision, 
• Break up the cloudy lens using ultrasound, and 
• Gently remove it before inserting a new, clear artificial lens.

More than 90% of patients see 20/20 with the use of glasses afterward.

Navigating Recovery and Managing Risks

You’ll be discharged shortly after surgery and will need a ride home. Your doctor will likely give you a list of expectations, instructions, and handy tips for your recovery period, but here are just a few to help you prepare: 

• You’ll use eye drops starting that same day and wear a shield while you sleep for several weeks. 
• Try to avoid getting water, dust, or debris in your eye. 
• Strenuous activity can increase pressure and cause problems, so take it easy—gentle walking is fine, but skip the gym for now. 
• Avoid bending, straining, and wearing eye makeup for about 1–2 weeks.

Serious complications are rare, but it’s still important to know what to expect. Less than 0.1% of patients develop an infection, and only about 1 in 1,000 experience serious issues like bleeding or retinal detachment.

 If the lens capsule tears during surgery, your doctor might need to perform a vitrectomy, which slightly increases the risk of post-op complications.

Choosing the Right Lens for Your Lifestyle

Prior to the surgery, you and your doctor will need to decide what kind of lens implant suits you best. 

• Standard mono-focal lenses are covered by insurance and work great for distance vision, though you’ll probably need reading glasses. 
• If you’d prefer to reduce your reliance on glasses altogether, multifocal and trifocal lenses might be an option.

That said, not everyone is a good fit for these premium lenses. You might experience night glare or halos, and if you’re detail-oriented, these side effects might bother you enough to request a lens exchange. 

These advanced lenses also come with out-of-pocket costs, so you’ll want to weigh the benefits and risks carefully.

With the right information and a skilled surgical team, you can make a choice that supports both your vision and your lifestyle.

*Steigleman, A. and Hofmeister, E. M. (2024, March 20). Are you one of the millions about to have cataract surgery? Here’s what ophthalmologists say you need to know. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/are-you-one-of-the-millions-about-to-have-cataract-surgery-heres-what-ophthalmologists-say-you-need-to-know-215043 

Any sources from outside of Prevent Blindness do not imply an endorsement from Prevent Blindness. The contents of the material used are the responsibility of the authoring organization, Responsum Health.

To ensure that we always provide you with high-quality, reliable information, Responsum Health closely vets all sources. We do not, however, endorse or recommend any specific providers, treatments, or products, and the use of a given source does not imply an endorsement of any provider, treatment, medication, or procedure discussed within.