Cataract Surgery: What to Expect Before, During and After the Procedure

Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens inside your eye and replaces it with a clear artificial lens. You stay awake, your eye is numbed so you don’t feel pain, and the operation usually takes between 20 minutes and about an hour. Most people go home the same day, notice clearer vision within a few days, and are fully healed within 4 to 8 weeks.
Being told you need cataract surgery can feel worrying, especially if you have never had an operation before. The good news is that it is one of the most common, safe and effective operations done today, and knowing what happens at each step makes it far less daunting.
Cataracts are very common as we get older. In India, cataract is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50, accounting for about two-thirds of cases, according to India’s national blindness survey (2015–19). In most cases, this loss of sight can be reversed with surgery.

What Is Cataract Surgery and Why Is It Done?
Inside your eye, behind the coloured part (the iris), is a natural lens that focuses light so you can see clearly. With age, this lens slowly turns cloudy. That cloudiness is a cataract, and it makes everything look a bit like you are seeing through a fogged-up window.
Cataract surgery takes out the cloudy lens and puts a clear artificial lens in its place. This new lens is called an intraocular lens, or IOL, and it stays in your eye permanently.
Surgery is done because nothing else removes a cataract. Eye drops, eye exercises and glasses cannot clear it. In the early stages, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, magnifying lenses or updated glasses can help you cope. Doctors usually suggest surgery once the cataract starts getting in the way of everyday life, such as reading, driving, watching TV or recognising faces.
Not sure whether you have a cataract? Our guide to cataract symptoms and stages explains the early signs.

What Happens Before Cataract Surgery?
Before your operation, you will have a check-up with your eye doctor. The most important part is measuring your eye, so the new lens is made to the right strength for you, much like glasses are made to your prescription.
Here is what usually happens in the lead-up:

• Eye measurements. Painless tests measure the size and shape of your eye to choose the right lens.
• Choosing your lens. Your doctor explains the lens options and which one suits your eyes and lifestyle.
• A review of your medicines. Tell your doctor about everything you take. You may be asked to pause some medicines, but only do this if your doctor tells you to.
• Eye drops, which some surgeons ask you to start before surgery.
• Contact lenses. If you wear them, you may need to leave them out for a few days beforehand.
• Eating and drinking. Follow your clinic’s instructions. Some surgeons ask you not to eat solid food for at least 6 hours before the operation.
• A lift home. You will not be able to drive straight after surgery, so arrange for a family member or friend to take you home.

What Happens During Cataract Surgery, Step by Step?
Knowing the steps can take a lot of the worry away. Here is what typically happens on the day:

1. Drops to widen your pupil. These give the surgeon a clear view of the lens.
2. Numbing. Your eye is numbed with drops or an injection around the eye. Some people are also given a medicine to help them relax.
3. Getting ready. The area around your eye is cleaned and covered to keep everything sterile.
4. A tiny opening. The surgeon makes a very small cut at the edge of the clear front part of your eye, using a blade or a laser.
5. Removing the cloudy lens. A fine probe uses sound waves to break the cloudy lens into tiny pieces, which are gently suctioned out.
6. Placing the new lens. The clear artificial lens is placed where your old lens was.
7. Usually no stitches. The opening is so small that it normally seals by itself.
8. A protective shield. A pad or clear shield is placed over your eye, and you rest for a short while before going home.

You can read more about the types of cataract surgery offered at Eye Health Clinic.

Will Cataract Surgery Hurt, and Will I Be Awake?
Cataract surgery is almost painless. You stay awake, but your eye is numbed, so you should not feel pain.
During the operation, most people notice:

• A bright light, though you do not see the surgery itself.
• Some pressure around the eye, which is not usually painful.

Afterwards, your eye may feel itchy, a little uncomfortable or sensitive to light. This is normal and usually settles within a day or two.
Feeling nervous is completely normal. Tell your surgeon before the day. They can talk you through each step, and some people are given a medicine to help them relax.

How Long Does Cataract Surgery Take?
The operation itself usually takes between 20 minutes and about an hour. You will spend longer at the hospital than that, because of check-in, eye drops and a short rest afterwards, so ask your clinic how much time to set aside. Most people go home the same day.

Part of the Day	What Happens	Roughly How Long
Before the operation	Check-in, drops to widen the pupil, numbing	Ask your clinic
The operation	Cloudy lens removed, new lens placed	20 minutes to about 1 hour
Rest afterwards	Short rest in a recovery area	About 15 to 30 minutes
Going home	You leave with eye drops and aftercare instructions	Same day for most people

What Surgery Day Looks Like at Eye Health Clinic
At Eye Health Clinic, cataract surgery is done as day-care surgery, so most patients go home the same day. Your eye is numbed with drops, and the procedure usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. Depending on your eye, it is done with micro-incision phaco or, in selected cases, a laser-assisted technique, and you can choose from standard and premium lenses. If you are comparing options for cataract surgery in Delhi, ask for your lens choice and total cost to be explained upfront. EHC follows transparent pricing with no hidden charges.

What Happens Right After Cataract Surgery?
Your vision will be blurry for a few hours after surgery, partly because of the drops used to widen your pupil. It usually gets clearer over the next few days, and most eyes are fully healed within 4 to 8 weeks.

When	What You May Notice	What to Do
Day of surgery	Blurry vision for a few hours	Rest at home and start your eye drops as instructed.
First 1 to 2 days	Itchy or uncomfortable eye, sensitive to light	Don’t rub or press on your eye.
First week	Vision getting clearer	Wear the eye shield at night, usually for one week.
About 4 weeks	Eye settling	Finish your eye drops, usually used for about 4 weeks.
4 to 8 weeks	Eye fully healed for most people	Get your eyes tested for new glasses when your doctor advises, often around 6 weeks.

Until your doctor says otherwise, avoid:

• Rubbing your eye
• Driving, until your vision is back to normal
• Heavy lifting and sports
• Eye make-up
• Getting water in your eye, including swimming

You can usually read or watch TV almost straight away, even if things look a little blurry at first. Wearing your glasses or eye shield as advised helps protect your healing eye, which is useful in dusty or smoky conditions. You may still need glasses for reading or distance afterwards, and your prescription may change.

Conclusion
Cataract surgery is a short, carefully planned operation: a check-up and eye measurements beforehand, a numbed eye and a procedure that usually takes up to about an hour on the day, and a few weeks of simple aftercare. For most people, the reward is clearer, brighter vision within days and a return to the things they enjoy.
To talk through your options, book a cataract consultation with Eye Health Clinic.
This article is for general awareness and is not a substitute for a consultation with your eye doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can both eyes be operated on the same day?
Usually not. Each eye is treated at a separate time, often about a month apart, so the first eye has time to heal. Your surgeon will decide the right gap for you.

When can I drive after cataract surgery?
Only once your vision is back to normal and your doctor says it is safe. Until then, ask someone else to drive you, including on the day of surgery.

Will I still need glasses after cataract surgery?
Possibly. Many people still need glasses for reading or distance, and the prescription may be different from before. How much you need glasses depends partly on the type of lens you choose. New glasses are usually prescribed once your eye has healed, often around six weeks after surgery.

Can a cataract come back after surgery?
The cataract itself cannot come back, because the cloudy lens has been removed. But some people notice their vision becoming cloudy again weeks, months or even years later. This is called a secondary cataract, and your eye doctor can fix it with laser treatment.

What symptoms after cataract surgery need urgent attention?
​Contact your eye doctor straight away if you notice sudden or increasing floaters (small dark spots or lines), flashes of light, a dark curtain or shadow across your vision, sudden blurring or loss of vision, pain that won’t go away, or a very red eye. These can be signs of a problem, such as a detached retina, that needs quick treatment.