What Is the Procedure for Cataract Surgery and How To Prepare

Key Takeaways:

• Cataract surgery replaces a cloudy lens with a clear artificial one to improve vision.
• Preparation includes eye exams, health checks, and selecting the right lens implant.
• Costs vary widely depending on location, coverage, and type of procedure.
• Recovery involves using eye drops, avoiding strain, and attending follow-up appointments.
• A secondary cataract can occur later but is easily treated with a quick laser procedure.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed worldwide. It involves removing the natural lens of your eye when it becomes clouded, usually due to aging or other eye conditions. This clouding—called a cataract—can gradually cause vision loss, making everyday tasks like reading, driving, or recognizing faces more difficult.

The goal of the procedure is to restore clearer vision. This is done by replacing the clouded natural lens with an artificial lens, known as a lens implant. The procedure is typically quick, done under local anesthesia, and doesn’t require an overnight hospital stay.

Cataracts don’t develop overnight. In most cases, vision declines slowly, giving you time to talk with an eye doctor and decide when surgery makes sense. You might notice visual disturbances like glare, halos around lights, or trouble seeing in dim settings. If these issues start interfering with your daily activities, it’s probably time to consider surgery.

Costs, Access, and Timing

The cost of cataract surgery can vary depending on where you live, the type of procedure, and how it’s accessed—through public healthcare, private insurance, or out-of-pocket payment. In some countries, the surgery is mostly covered by health systems or insurance, while in others, the patient might carry most of the cost.

For example, people often ask how much they might pay out of pocket, and one comparison that comes up frequently is the typical cataract surgery cost Australia patients face. Even if you live elsewhere, it can be helpful to use that as a reference point.

Talk with your provider about what’s covered, what isn’t, and what you can expect in terms of additional fees. Pre-surgical eye exams, anesthetic services, follow-up visits, and the type of lens implant used can all impact the total cost.

Who Might Need Cataract Surgery?

Cataracts are more common as you age, especially past 60. However, younger people can also develop cataracts due to diabetes, smoking, prolonged exposure to bright lights without protection, or long-term use of certain medications like steroids. Injuries to the eye and inherited genetic disorders may also play a role.

You might need surgery if you:

• Struggle to read or see street signs clearly
• Find it harder to manage glare from headlights or sunlight
• Notice a frequent need to change your prescription glasses
• Experience a gritty feeling in your eyes that doesn’t go away
• Have been told during an eye exam that your cataracts are progressing

In some cases, both eyes are affected. Usually, they are operated on separately, giving the first eye time to heal before addressing the second.

How To Prepare for Cataract Surgery

You’ll need to start preparing a few weeks before the procedure. This includes medical evaluations, planning logistics, and making decisions about the lens you’ll receive. Once your eye doctor recommends surgery, you’ll go through a pre-operative process to assess your health, measure your eye, and decide what kind of lens implant will work best for you.

Pre-Surgery Eye Exam

This exam is more detailed than a regular checkup. The doctor will measure the size and shape of your eye and assess how clouded your natural lens has become. They’ll also check your eye pressure, the condition of your retina, and rule out other eye conditions that might affect your outcome. If you have issues like macular degeneration or glaucoma, your surgery plan might need adjustments.

You’ll also talk about the lens implant. Options range from basic monofocal lenses (which correct vision at one distance) to premium lenses that may reduce the need for prescription glasses after surgery. Each has pros and cons, and not all are covered by standard insurance.

Medical Considerations

You may need to adjust your current medications in the days leading up to surgery. For example, blood thinners could increase bleeding risk and may require temporary changes. If you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar becomes even more important during this time, since it affects healing.

Your doctor may prescribe eye drops to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. These drops often start a few days before surgery and continue for several weeks after surgery. Follow the schedule exactly because it lowers your risk of infection and supports smoother healing.

What To Expect Before the Procedure

On the day of the surgery, you’ll be asked not to eat or drink for several hours. You should also arrange for someone to drive you home afterward since your vision may be blurry for a while.

Avoid wearing makeup, perfume, or face creams to your appointment. These products can increase the chance of bacteria entering the eye. Wear comfortable clothes, and bring any paperwork your provider asks for.

You won’t be under general anesthesia, so there’s no need to worry about being fully asleep. Most people receive a mild sedative and local anesthetic eye drops, which means you’ll be awake but won’t feel pain during the procedure.

Specialised Care for Complex Eye Conditions

For patients with complex eye conditions such as keratoconus, high astigmatism, severe dry eye, or a history of corneal transplants, specialised care may be necessary before or after cataract surgery. Michigan Contact Lens offers expert support in these areas, providing advanced contact lens solutions and therapeutic options tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Their team works closely with ophthalmologists to ensure optimal visual outcomes, particularly for those whose corneal health may impact the success of cataract procedures.

What Happens During Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery usually takes less than 30 minutes and is done as an outpatient procedure. The most common technique used today is called phacoemulsification.

Here’s a step-by-step look at what typically happens:

1. Numbing the eye: After you arrive and get checked in, you’ll receive eye drops to numb the area. You may also get medication to help you relax.
2. Making the incision: The surgeon makes a very small cut at the edge of your cornea. This opening allows instruments to access the lens without the need for stitches.
3. Breaking up the cloudy lens: A tiny probe uses ultrasound waves to break the cataract lens into small fragments. This process is quick and causes minimal trauma to the surrounding tissue.
4. Removing the lens: The pieces of the old lens are gently suctioned out, leaving behind the lens capsule, which holds the new artificial lens in place.
5. Inserting the lens implant: The surgeon places the lens implant into the capsule. It unfolds into position and stays in place without the need for stitches in most cases.
6. Sealing the incision: The small incision usually seals itself, and a protective eye shield or eye patch is placed to protect your eye as it starts to heal.

Throughout the procedure, you’ll be aware of lights or gentle pressure but should not feel pain. If you feel discomfort or movement, let your surgical team know.

What To Expect After Cataract Surgery

The recovery process is usually straightforward, but it’s still a surgical procedure. You’ll need to be careful, follow instructions, and pay attention to your symptoms.

Right After Surgery

Your eye will be covered with an eye shield or eye patch to protect it from dust, accidental rubbing, and bright lights. It’s common to feel a gritty feeling in your eye for the first day or two. Some people also experience mild discomfort, light sensitivity, and blurry vision during this initial phase.

Plan to rest for the rest of the day. You might be able to resume some light activities the next day, but avoid any heavy lifting or activities that could strain your eye. Even bending over can temporarily increase eye pressure, so be cautious.

The First Couple of Days

Most people notice a significant improvement in vision within the first 24 to 48 hours. However, full recovery can take several weeks. You’ll likely have a follow-up appointment the day after surgery to check your eye pressure and healing progress.

Keep using your prescribed eye drops as directed. These typically include an antibiotic to prevent infection and a steroid to reduce inflammation. If you skip doses or stop early, you increase the risk of infection or prolonged swelling.

Avoid swimming, getting water in your eyes, and exposing your eye to smoke or dusty environments during the first few weeks. These all increase the risk of complications.

Healing and Adjustments

During the first few weeks after surgery, your eye continues to adapt to the new lens. You may experience some visual disturbances, such as glare or halos around lights—especially at night. These often fade as your brain adjusts, and mindfulness can help you cope with recovery during this transition.

If you had surgery on only one eye, your vision might feel unbalanced until the second procedure is done (if needed). Your doctor may delay updating your prescription glasses until healing is complete in both eyes.

If you experience severe pain, worsening vision, or a sudden increase in floaters or flashes, call your provider right away. These symptoms may indicate a complication and should be evaluated as soon as possible.

Common but Treatable Complication: Secondary Cataract

Sometimes, weeks or months after surgery, your vision may start to become cloudy again. This isn’t the return of your original cataract but a condition known as secondary cataract. It happens when the back part of the lens capsule, which is the thin membrane left in place during surgery, becomes hazy.

A quick outpatient laser treatment, called posterior capsulotomy, can fix this. It uses a focused laser to create a clear opening in the clouded capsule, restoring sharp vision without another surgical procedure.

Conclusion

Cataract surgery is a safe and effective procedure that can significantly improve your quality of life by restoring clear vision. Preparing properly, understanding what to expect, and following your recovery plan closely can help reduce complications and support a smoother healing process. From managing bright lights and temporary visual disturbances to avoiding heavy lifting and protecting your eye with an eye shield, small actions make a big difference.

Stay consistent with your follow-up visits, use your prescribed drops as directed, and don’t hesitate to ask questions during recovery. The clarity you regain can make everyday activities more comfortable and help you stay independent longer.