I'm Nervous About My Cataract Surgery: What Can I Expect?

The lens of your eye functions much like the lens of a camera, helping to properly focus light to produce a clear picture. In your eye, the lens is made up of proteins called crystallins. For most of your life, those proteins are clear. As you get older, though, they can start to break down, moving from clear to cloudy. 

That causes the cataract — and the resulting vision impairment. Fortunately, because cataracts are such a common age-related problem, researchers have developed a highly effective way to correct them. 

Hilla Steinberg, MD, offers cataract removal surgery at our office on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, as well as at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, where she holds surgical privileges. She doesn’t just perform this surgery, either. She and our team want to help any patients who need cataract removal feel as comfortable as possible about their procedure.

With that in mind, we built this guide to help you know what goes on during and after cataract surgery. 

What to expect during cataract surgery

You’ll be awake during your surgery — but don’t worry, it usually only takes about 15 minutes. Our team gives you anesthetic eyedrops to fully numb your eye first. 

Dr. Steinberg doesn’t need to open up your eye to remove your cataract. Instead, once you’re numb, she performs your entire surgery through a tiny slit in your cornea (the front part of your eyeball). 

Once she has access to the cataract, Dr. Steinberg removes it in one of two ways. When possible, she breaks up the cataract using ultrasonic methods. That allows her to suction the cloudy proteins out of your eye. 

If your cataract can’t be broken up in this way, she takes the lens out in one piece. She can still do this through the slit in your cornea.

Then, Dr. Steinberg replaces your clouded lens with a new, clear intraocular lens (IOL). 

Most people don't require stitches to close the tiny incision. This type of procedure is generally self-sealing. 

If you’re a visual learner, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has a 45-second video that walks you through the steps of cataract removal surgery. 

What to expect during recovery

Cataract surgery shouldn’t be painful during your procedure or afterward. We’ll have you rest in the recovery area for about 30 minutes, then someone else can drive you home. You’ll have a protective eye shield, which you should wear while sleeping. 

Your eye might feel gritty or itchy afterward. Those sensations should fade within a few days. It’s important that you don’t rub your eyes for a few weeks afterward, even if they itch. That saves you from interrupting your eye’s natural self-sealing and healing processes. 

Your vision may also appear blurry immediately after your surgery. That should start getting better within a few days. The vast majority of people (97%) have better vision after cataract surgery — and most don’t experience any complications. 

Dr. Steinberg gives you eye drops to use after your surgery. Continue applying them as long as she prescribes (usually about two months) to help your eye heal and prevent complications. 

Knowing what to expect helps you feel less nervous. If you still have questions about cataract surgery or your recovery, call our office or book an appointment online today.