When can I fly after cataract surgery?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says that for most patients, flying after cataract surgery is safe, and that there is generally no restriction on air travel after cataract surgery in otherwise healthy eyes. Routine cataract procedures do not create the pressure problems that make flying risky after some other eye operations.

The practical limit is your follow up schedule, not the airplane. AAO notes that most ophthalmologists want to see patients the first day after cataract surgery and again about a week later, and ASCRS describes the same day 1 and week 1 visit pattern. That is why surgeons usually ask you to stay near home for roughly the first week. If you have an urgent need to fly sooner, AAO says to clear it with your surgeon first.

The real altitude danger is intraocular gas, which is used in retinal detachment repair and in some corneal transplants, not in routine cataract surgery. AAO warns that changes in air pressure during a flight can make a gas bubble expand and drive eye pressure up, which can cause severe pain, permanent vision loss, or blindness. If your surgery was complicated and air or gas was placed in the eye, do not board a plane until your surgeon confirms the bubble is gone.

Cabin air is very dry, which can make the gritty, scratchy feeling of early recovery worse. Pack your prescription drops in your carry on so you stay on schedule, use lubricating drops as your surgeon allows, and do not rub the eye. Ask your operating surgeon about your specific trip before you book.