“How long does irritation last after cataract surgery?”
I am a 44 year old female. I want to know how long does irritation last after cataract surgery?
4 Answers
The eye can be irritated the first few days after surgery, especially if the tear film is dry and /or the cornea is swollen. Using plain artificial tears in between your prescription drops will help with that irritation.
Karl S. Pappa, MD
Karl S. Pappa, MD
Hello, and thank you for your question.
The irritation and foreign body sensation stems from the small, roughly 2mm incision that is made during surgery. This heals over the the first 24-36 hours, and the irritation should subside after that time. I recommend my patients use artificial tears for the irritation and Tylenol or Advil for any pain. While everyone’s experience is a little different, I’ve never needed to prescribe anything stronger for any of my patients. Cataract surgery is a quick, safe, and successful surgery. The recovery time is minimal, and you should enjoy improved vision in no time.
Hope this helps,
J. Eric Downing, MD
The irritation and foreign body sensation stems from the small, roughly 2mm incision that is made during surgery. This heals over the the first 24-36 hours, and the irritation should subside after that time. I recommend my patients use artificial tears for the irritation and Tylenol or Advil for any pain. While everyone’s experience is a little different, I’ve never needed to prescribe anything stronger for any of my patients. Cataract surgery is a quick, safe, and successful surgery. The recovery time is minimal, and you should enjoy improved vision in no time.
Hope this helps,
J. Eric Downing, MD
Usually subsides after a day.
Usually we see patients 1 day post-op, then 1 week, and then 1 month and 6 months. For 4 weeks post-cataract, patients are given eye drops to help with infection and inflammation.
