What happens later at home?

Sometimes, an eye patch must be worn. Eye drops that contain antibiotics, such as tobramycin, and medicine to prevent swelling may be given. The use of these drops tapers off over the course of several weeks. Measurements for new glasses are taken as needed.

If there are no complications at the time of surgery, a person can usually return to normal activities within a week. He or she may resume driving when proper requirements for vision are met.

Successful cataract removal makes a person's vision much sharper. This allows people to return to activities that had been limited or stopped due to poor vision before surgery. When people have no other problems with their eyes before the surgery, 20/20 vision is often achieved.

What are the potential complications after the procedure?

Potential problems are usually related to the surgery. They include:

Fortunately, these complications are rare. Other possible problems might be linked to the drugs used to numb the eye or relax the person. The most serious complication is puncturing of the eyeball when giving the numbing medicine. This is very rare.