Cataract Surgery Days 4 to 7: What to Expect

This is the stretch where most people go back to ordinary life. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advice column on recovery time says that in most cases returning to work should be only several days, with the caveat that jobs needing precise near vision can be awkward while you wait on a new prescription, and that having only one eye done can make the difference between eyes hard to work with for a while.

The scratchy feeling should be settling. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says the foreign body sensation should heal within a week or so. Blurriness should also be improving, and the AAO advises consulting your doctor if the blurriness does not subside after a week. People with existing corneal disease may take up to a month for blur to clear, which is worth knowing if that applies to you.

Toward the end of this week your surgeon may clear more strenuous activity. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says to wait 7 to 10 days for biking, running, tennis, golf, and sex. Swimming is a separate and longer wait. StatPearls lists a one week follow-up as part of the standard postoperative schedule.