What to Expect with Cataract Surgery: Before, During and After

If you’ve been diagnosed with cataracts, it’s natural to have questions about what comes next. From your first evaluation through recovery, understanding the cataract surgery experience can help you feel more confident and prepared. At ICON Eyecare in Grand Junction, our team has created this guide to walk you through each step of the cataract surgery journey.

What Is a Cataract?

In a healthy eye, the natural lens is clear, flexible, and biconvex, allowing light to focus properly on the retina — much like a camera lens focuses an image. Over time, that lens can become cloudy due to natural aging. This clouding is known as a cataract and often causes veiled or foggy vision, similar to looking through a frosted window.

Scheduling a Consultation for Cataracts

Cataracts typically develop gradually. Patients experiencing vision changes or other concerns should be evaluated by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. In many cases, cataracts are monitored over several years before surgery becomes necessary.

Early on, cataract symptoms may be managed with brighter lighting or reading glasses. Eventually, however, cataract surgery is the only way to restore clear vision.

Preparing for Cataract Surgery

During your cataract surgery consultation, your eye surgeon will review your medical history and medications. You may be asked to pause or adjust certain medications prior to surgery, and pre-operative eye drops may be prescribed. Additional preparation steps may include:

• Avoiding food and drink for 6–8 hours before surgery
• Reviewing procedure details and asking questions
• Arranging transportation to and from the procedure

Choosing an Artificial Lens

During your consultation, our eye doctors will also outline your options for artificial lenses. Intraocular lenses (IOLs) mimic healthy, clear natural lenses. Since everyone is unique, choosing an intraocular lens that matches your lifestyle is crucial.

Types of Lenses

At our eye care and treatment center, we offer several different types of IOLs:

• Monofocal: Monofocal lenses help individuals see and focus at a specific, predetermined distance (near or far). Most patients opt for the distance they have the most trouble with or the one they would use the most often. You can wear eyeglasses or contact lenses with monofocals.
• Toric: Toric lenses improve a specific distance vision as well. Yet, they also have an additional perk. They correct astigmatism which can reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
• Multifocal lenses: These lenses are suitable for individuals who would like to improve vision and focus for all three distances – close, medium, and far.

During your consultation, we will discuss your options for lenses and answer any questions you may have.

Preparing for Cataract Surgery

During your cataract surgery consultation, your eye surgeon will review your medical history and medications. You may be asked to pause or adjust certain medications prior to surgery, and pre-operative eye drops may be prescribed. Additional preparation steps may include:

• Avoiding food and drink for 6–8 hours before surgery
• Reviewing procedure details and asking questions
• Arranging transportation to and from the procedure

What Happens During Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, typically at a surgical center or your eye doctor’s office. Medication is provided to help you relax, and anesthetic eye drops are administered to numb your eye and ensure comfort. Through a tiny incision, the cataract surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL) made of plastic, acrylic, or silicone. Patients are usually awake and may notice light or movement during the procedure.

The incision heals naturally, so stitches are rarely needed. A protective eye shield is applied before you move to recovery.

Types of Cataract Surgery Techniques

All cataract procedures involve replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial IOL. Common approaches include:

• Small incision cataract surgery: SICS is the most commonly performed type of cataract surgery. During this procedure, the eye surgeon makes a microscopic incision in the cornea and uses ultrasound waves to break up the lens for removal — a process called phacoemulsification — while preserving the natural lens capsule.
• Extracapsular cataract surgery: This process is typically recommended when phacoemulsification is not an option for the type of cataract and may require a longer recovery time. The surgeon removes the lens in one piece through a larger incision, leaving the natural lens capsule in place. 

Femtosecond laser cataract surgery: Also called laser-assisted cataract surgery, this process uses a precision laser to break up the clouded lens before removing it and replacing it with the IOL. It’s often recommended for patients with astigmatism, as the surgeon can reshape the cornea during the procedure.

Recovery After Cataract Surgery

Patients typically spend about an hour in recovery before returning home. Some assistance may be needed initially, but most people can resume light activities such as reading or watching TV the same day. Importantly, activities like heavy lifting and hot tub use should be avoided. 

Your surgeon will provide eye drops and instructions for wearing a protective eye shield. Follow-up visits usually occur the day after surgery, one week later, and again after several weeks. Recovery may take longer if you have eye conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration.

Cataract surgery is widely regarded as safe and effective. According to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, approximately three million cataract surgeries are performed each year in the U.S., with a 98% success rate.

Follow-Up Appointments

Typically, you will have several follow-up appointments within the first few days and weeks. At these appointments, your doctor will evaluate your eye and make sure the healing progresses well. You can feel free to ask any questions or present any concerns during this time. Although complete healing can take up to four months, most patients make their full cataract surgery recovery in only a month. You may see vision improvement a few days after surgery and significant benefits after a month.

Your eye doctor will provide you with a detailed list of instructions for post-surgery care. However, in general, we promote the following guidelines:

• Do: Wear your sunglasses when you go outdoors to protect your eyes
• Do: Come for any follow-up appointments scheduled to review eyeglasses, contact lenses prescriptions, or evaluation to see how healing and vision progress.
• Do: Return to normal activities if they are light and non-strenuous
• Do Not: Lift objects weighing more than 15 pounds for one week from surgery
• Do Not: Bend over for one week from surgery
• Do Not: Wear makeup on your eyes or around your eyes for 1 week
• Do Not: Rub your eye even if it is itchy for 1 week
• Do Not: Submerge your face in the water or come in contact with direct water pressure for two weeks
• Do Not: Perform strenuous activity for 1 week

When to Call Your Eye Doctor

In some cases, a cataract patient may experience severe symptoms. Call us if you notice:

• Eye pain
• Vision loss
• Worsening eyesight
• Worsening redness
• Swelling
• Discharge
• Flashes of light or bursts of floaters in your eye
• Cloudy or blurred vision at any point after your surgery, even years down the line. You may have a secondary cataract. Our surgeons can repair this issue quickly using YAG laser capsulotomy.
• You want to schedule your second cataract surgery in your other eye after you make a full recovery.

Trust ICON Eyecare’s Cataract Experts

With more than 25 years of experience, ICON Eyecare delivers advanced cataract care through board-certified surgeons and leading technology, including advanced lens options. Our patient-first approach emphasizes safety, comfort, and precision to help restore clear vision and confidence.

Request your cataract consultation today and learn more about the ICON Eyecare experience.