Congratulations - if you’re reading this then you’re most likely preparing for your cataract surgery or seriously considering surgery for yourself, a friend, or a family member. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and over 20 million cataract operations are completed every year with 40,000 in New Zealand. Much like wrinkles, cataract is an unavoidable part of ageing. Making the decision to proceed with surgery is the first step towards restoring your vision.

Cataract surgery can be a life-changing event. Vision is closely linked to quality of life. Poor vision can be associated with an increased incidence of depression, anxiety, decreased confidence, loss of independence, and increased risk of falls. Vision is one of the most important of our senses (vision, hearing, sensation, taste and smell) and an important factor to maintain health and wellbeing as we age. Many patients who have cataract surgery are genuinely surprised how much their vision and quality of life improves.

Cataracts develop gradually over many years. It is not unusual for the loss of vision to be so gradual that you are unaware of how much it has changed over time. Thankfully, cataract related visual loss is completely reversible. Even severe visual loss due to advanced cataracts can be corrected with surgery.

You may find it helpful to follow the ten-point checklist below to help you prepare for your surgery. You can download a printable summary checklist at the end of this post. Good preparation can help you relax on the day and ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Before your cataract surgery

1. Practice using eye drops before your surgery

Eye drops are essential after your surgery to provide a fast and trouble-free recovery. You will be given an antibiotic eye drop to prevent infection and anti-inflammatory eye drops to help promote rapid recovery. If you haven’t used eye drops before it can be helpful to practice using eye drops before your surgery. You can practice with artificial tear eye drops (lubricants) that are available without a prescription from your pharmacy or from the clinic at your first appointment. There are many different types of lubricants available. Systane Ultra is a widely available lubricant that is suitable after surgery. Hylofresh and Novatears are preservative-free alternatives that are also excellent lubricants for after your surgery. You can also use these lubricants after surgery as they can soothe your eyes if they feel dry or irritated after surgery. Your nurse will explain how to use the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops on the day of surgery before you go home. If you think you will have difficulty using the drops you may want to arrange for a family member or friend to help for the first couple of days until you are confident using the drops yourself.

There are many different types of artificial tears (lubricants). These eye drops are typically used for the treatment of dry and irritated eyes and can help soothe your eyes following cataract surgery.

It may be helpful to practice using eye drops before your surgery. Lubricants are ideal for this purpose and are available from you pharmacy or from the clinic.

2. Wash your hair the night before your surgery

You will need to keep your eye(s) clean and dry for several days following your surgery. You can still shower after your surgery but it is safest to avoid water splashing into your eyes. You can use cooled boiled water and a fresh tissue to gently clean around your eyelids if required. Avoid any eye rubbing if possible.

3. Take time out to relax before your surgery

Modern cataract surgery is typically completed under a local anaesthetic which means you will be awake at the time of the surgery. Although the surgery is not painful, it is not uncommon for most people to feel a little anxious before their surgery. If you are feeling particularly anxious on the day then please let us know so we can help. You can rest assured that we have an excellent team and will take great care of you. Our staff are very experienced and highly skilled. We are all here to ensure you have a positive and enjoyable experience. Most people are surprised how straightforward the surgery is. You will be happy to know that there are no injections or needles required to numb your eye. The nurse will give you some numbing eye drops just before the surgery. These drops work in seconds and are very effective for keeping you comfortable. Your GP can prescribe a mild sedative to take 30min prior to your surgery if required but most people will be fine without this. If you are particularly anxious, please let us know on the day so we can help.

4. Ensure sure you have sunglasses for comfort after surgery

It is normal to be sensitive to bright light after your surgery and this may take some time to fully settle. Any sunglasses will help reduce your light sensitivity. Sunglasses that have a wrap-around design are best to reduce stray light and protect your eyes from wind if you are outdoors. Polarised lenses can help reduce glare but are not essential following surgery. We have sunglasses available at the clinic to purchase if required.

When selecting sunglasses a wrap-around design can help reduce sensitivity to light and wind especially when outdoors.

We have a selection of sunglasses available to purchase from the clinic if you do not have a suitable pair already.

5. Check your INR levels three days prior to surgery if you take warfarin, and call or email us with the results

We will advise you if any changes are required to your usual warfarin dose. It is not necessary to stop blood-thinning medications prior to routine cataract surgery if you normally take these medications. Aspirin, dabigatran (pradaxa) and rivaroxaban (xarelto) can be continued as normal. You can send your results to info@jamesandeye.co.nz or call Gaynor on ☎ 0800 CATARACT (0800 228 27 228) or (07) 834 6335.

6. Plan for some downtime after your surgery to help with a fast recovery

Most people will need up to a week before resuming normal activities. Many people are seeing well and feel back to normal within a day or two of their surgery. Despite the rapid improvement it is important to remember that your eyes will still be healing. Avoiding dirty environments, gardening, swimming, heavy lifting or strenuous physical activity for two weeks following surgery is strongly advised. It is very important to take it easy and use the eye drops as directed in the days following your surgery. The first week is the high-risk period of your recovery and it is not worth risking your vision by rushing back to activities that may cause problems with your eyes. You will not damage your eyes by watching TV, reading or using a computer during your recovery period and it is fine to do these activities if your eyes are comfortable.

On the day of surgery

7. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and avoid makeup and jewellery

It is important that you are comfortable during your surgery so selecting comfortable clothes can be helpful. Before the surgery can start we will need to clean around your eyes. Makeup can be difficult to remove and it’s best avoided on the day of surgery. It is also safest to avoid using any eye makeup in the first week after your surgery. Mascara and other cosmetic products can cause irritation and increase the risk of infection directly after your surgery.

8. Take your medications as usual, and eat and drink as normal on the day of surgery

If you normally take tablets, eye drops, or other medications for medical reasons then you should take these as normal on the day of surgery and during your recovery period. If you regularly use eye drops then in most cases these should continue as normal after surgery. We will confirm this with you during your clinic visit and if you are unsure please check with your nurse on the day of surgery. Avoid overly large or fatty meals on the day of surgery especially if you are prone to acid reflux. You will be lying flat for the surgery and it is important that you are comfortable.

9. Arrange someone to drive you home

Although you will be able to see immediately after your surgery, the vision will be blurry at first and you will not be safe (or legal) to drive yourself. In most cases, the vision will quickly recover within the first couple of days after surgery. At your follow-up appointment a few days after your surgery you will be signed off to drive. It is a legal requirement to ensure that you meet the driving licence visual standards before you drive. Please note you won’t be covered by your insurance if you were to drive and have an accident before we confirm your vision meets the driving licence standards.

10. Plan for an early night after your surgery

Your eyes may feel a little irritated, scratchy or achy after your surgery. This is very normal and is to be expected. You may find it helpful to take some paracetamol if your eyes are feeling irritable after your surgery. Some mild redness is also common directly after surgery and is not a cause for concern. Any irritation usually settles with a good night's sleep. Your eyelids are the perfect bandage for your eyes and a decent sleep will get your recovery off to a good start.

Download a printable checklist

This post has covered all of the common topics you should consider when you are preparing for surgery. You can download a printable checklist to help you prepare for your surgery.

If you need an appointment to discuss cataract surgery or have more questions please get in touch and we will do our best to arrange an appointment within the next 1-2 weeks. You can book an appointment using the button below or call Gaynor on ☎ 0800 CATARACT (0800 228 27 228) or (07) 834 6335.

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For any other questions please email info@jamesandeye.co.nz

10-point checklist to prepare for your cataract surgery