Aftercare: what to keep in mind after surgery
Most patients already see noticeably better the next morning. The eye still needs a few weeks to heal completely. With the right eye-drop schedule and a few simple rules, recovery is straightforward.
How healing progresses
- ·Mild irritation, watery eyes, sensitivity to light: completely normal
- ·Blurred vision: normal, the eye is still recovering
- ·Eye protection (shield or dressing) overnight
- ·Start the first eye drops today
- ·No rubbing the eye
- ·Vision improves quickly, often a clear improvement within 24–48 hours
- ·Eye drops as scheduled, 4 times a day
- ·First follow-up examination 1 day after surgery
- ·Slight redness and occasional watering: normal
- ·No swimming, no eye make-up, no sauna
- ·Vision continues to stabilise
- ·Cortisone drops are reduced step by step
- ·Follow-up appointment about 1 week after surgery
- ·Light everyday activities possible without restriction
- ·No final glasses prescription before week 4
- ·Eye drops finished
- ·Final visual acuity is measured
- ·New glasses can now be fitted
- ·Swimming, sauna and sport allowed again
- ·Follow-up appointment 4–6 weeks after surgery
The eye drops after surgery
After the operation your doctor will give you an individual eye-drop schedule. Which preparations, at what dose and for how long: your treating doctor decides this. Never stop the drops on your own, even if the eye feels perfectly fine.
Protect the eye from infection in the first period after surgery.
Typically for the first week after the procedure.
Calm the eye’s natural inflammatory response after the procedure.
Reduced step by step over several weeks; never stop them abruptly.
Reduce the risk of macular oedema (a build-up of fluid in the centre of the retina).
Typically for 2–4 weeks, depending on your individual treatment plan.
When can you do what again?
The good news: most everyday activities are possible again quickly.
| Activity | From when |
|---|---|
| Watching TV, reading | Possible straight away |
| Light office work | From day 1–2 |
| Driving | Only after your ophthalmologist’s check-up, usually after 1–2 weeks |
| Light exercise, walking | From week 1 |
| Fitting new glasses | From week 4–6 (once vision is stable) |
| Eye make-up | From week 2 |
| Swimming pool, sauna | From week 4–6 |
| Heavy physical work | From week 2–4 |
| Diving | From week 6 |
Guide values. Your doctor may give different recommendations depending on how your healing progresses.
Driving: Do not get behind the wheel too soon. Driving is only allowed once your ophthalmologist has confirmed at a check-up that your visual acuity is sufficient, as a rule after about one to two weeks.
The second eye
If both eyes are affected, they are usually operated on separately, typically 1–4 weeks apart. There is a good reason for this: the result of the first eye influences the optimal lens power calculation for the second eye.
Posterior capsule opacification: when vision worsens again after months
In 20–40% of patients the posterior lens capsule clouds over after some time, sometimes after a few months, sometimes only after years. This is called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), often called ‘secondary cataract’. Vision deteriorates in a similar way to the original cataract.
PCO is treated with a short laser procedure at the practice: as an outpatient, without anaesthesia, in about 5 minutes. The laser opens a small window in the clouded capsule. Vision improves immediately or within a few days. No restrictions apply afterwards. This procedure is fully covered by the ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse, Austria’s largest public health insurer).
When should you see a doctor immediately?
The most important rules of conduct, eye-drop tips and warning signs on one page, for the first weeks after surgery.
From the preliminary examination to the final check-up: a specialist guides you through the whole process and answers your questions.
Find a specialist near you