What You Need to Know About Blurred Vision After Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is a common way to solve vision problems. However, there is a snag. After this surgery, it is common for you to have blurred vision. Here is everything you need to know about these vision problems.

Why Does Blurred Vision Occur?

Let’s start by why you are struggling to see clearly in the first place. When the surgery is performed, it disturbs the blood vessels that are in the retina. This causes fluid to leak into your eye. This is what is causing the blurry vision.

Other Side Effects

It should be noted that this isn’t the only side effect you can expect. You might also find that you are experiencing light sensitivity after cataract surgery. This is common. After the surgery, your eyes will be drier, which can cause you to squint in bright lights. But if this doesn’t go away, you should talk to your ophthalmologist. It could be a sign that the eye has become infected.

You might also begin to feel sick. This is likely as a result of the drugs used to sedate you, rather than a problem with the eye. It should pass within a few days.

How Long Does it Take to go Away?

While blurred vision can be annoying, it won’t last forever. You just need to wait for the blood vessels around the eye to heal. How long this will take can vary. Everyone will be different. Though it is common for people to see an improvement in the first 48 hours. From there, it might take a few weeks for your eyes to settle and your vision to get back to normal. In most cases, you will be given some eye drops to help you manage the blurred vision.

How to Boost Recovery Rate

The eye will heal itself from blurred vision after cataract operation. But there are a few things you can do to speed up the recovery process. Your surgeon will give you some instructions. You must be following them. There are a few other things to consider. First, you should consider wearing an eye shield. You should also avoid scratching or rubbing your eyes. It can also be a good idea to avoid strenuous activities and swimming for a few weeks following the surgery. If you have questions about what you can or can’t do, it’s best to double-check with your surgeon.

Long Term Consequences of Cataract Surgery

There are a few other potential consequences that you should be aware of. For example, you might get blurred vision 2 years after cataract surgery. This could be a sign of Posterior Capsule Opacity (PCO). In this case, the new lens in the eye has started to wrinkle as the cells begin to grow over the top of the membrane. The best way to think of it is like skin growing over the top of a wound. Thankfully, there is an easy solution. The doctor will make a hole using a laser. The lets the light pass through easily, bringing back clear vision. This should only take around five minutes.

Conclusion

Cataract surgery is a common operation. It is common for you to have a bit of blurred vision. But this, like most of the other side effects, will pass fairly quickly. Within a day or two, most patients will see a marked improvement. If you are still having these issues, you can contact an optometrist.