Blurry vision after cataract surgery

Cataract surgery has a pretty much 100% success rate. So that means that your vision will be returned to a wonderful 20:20 straight after the op, right?

Well, while many people experience a great improvement within 24 hours, this certainly isn’t the case for everyone. Blurry vision after cataract surgery is a normal—albeit transient—side effect that affects many.

The following looks at the reasons why this occurs, other postoperative side effects, and the rarer reason that you might experience vision issues weeks, months, or even years after a cataract procedure.

Reasons Why You Might Experience Blurry Vision After Cataract Surgery

• The post-op healing stage
• Blurry vision after cataract surgery and other side effects

The post-op healing stage

Much as cataract surgery is a simple procedure—and one that’s carried out millions of times per year—it’s still an invasive procedure. This means that the body needs to be allowed time to fully heal and adjust to its new normal.

This takes around 8 weeks, during which time you will need to take steps to aid the process, including:

• Not carrying out excessive exercise or carrying heavy weights
• Using your eye drops as instructed by your surgeon
• Not rubbing or touching the eye, as this increases the risk of infection or causing trauma
• Not swimming or wearing makeup for a few weeks
• Actively using the eye to read, watch TV, and carry out close-up activities
• Getting any necessary prescription eyeglasses once your vision has settled down

Blurry vision after cataract surgery and other side effects

OK, so onto the issue of blurry vision after cataract surgery. For most people with cataracts, you’ll likely have been wearing eyeglasses for quite some time prior to the procedure. This is likely to have led to the eye muscles becoming dependent on them for focus—and they might have become a bit lazy.

This is nothing to worry about but is usually one of the reasons that you might have blurred vision for a few days or weeks while everything settles down. There’s also the eye-brain link—this needs to be reset as the brain learns to re-interpret the clear signals it is now receiving.

Other side effects post-surgery, include double vision, grittiness, red eyes, soreness, and watering. While all of these tend to settle within a few days for most, some people might find they carry on for a few weeks or more. If you’re concerned, do speak to your eye surgeon to put your mind at rest.

In the Long Term: Blurry Vision Down the Line

• PCO: a reason for blurry vision after cataract surgery weeks, months, or years later

PCO: a reason for blurry vision after cataract surgery weeks, months, or years later

One reason some people begin to get blurred vision some weeks, months, or even years later is because of a condition called Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO). This is sometimes, rather mistakenly, referred to as a secondary cataract. Rest assured, it’s not the formation of a new one. What it is, is where proteins begin to clump together on the small amount of the lens capsule that has to be left in situ to attach the artificial lens.

It's easily treated with a single, 5-minute treatment, known as YAG laser. This is carried out in the doctor’s office and will sort the problem once and for all. It tends to affect around 25% of people at some point after cataract surgery, so don’t be worried if this happens to you. 

Experience the Ultimate Modern Cataract Surgery at the West Boca Eye Center

Modern Cataract Surgery is the dedicated unit at the WBEC where patients benefit from the expertise of one of the world’s best cataract surgeons—Brent Bellotte MD. As a globally renowned clinician, Bellotte has played a pivotal role in bringing cutting-edge treatments to the mainstream.

If you’re worried about, or have been diagnosed with, cataracts—or have been told that yours are ripe for surgery—there’s no better place in the country for treatment. 

Discover more about this world-beating clinic at https://www.moderncataractsurgery.com/ and call today to arrange an appointment.