What happenes during Cataracts Surgery
- Jan 13
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 4
After the admissions are done, you will be lying (or sitting) on a trolley bed and be queued to be sent into the operating theatre.
Preparation for the surgery:
Upon registration and admission, your information is verified and your vitals will be taken. For a period of time, you will lie or sit on a trolley (a moveable bed, not of the supermarket variety).
A plug will be inserted, typically into your hand, which will be used for the anaesthesia during the surgery.
Eye drops will also be instilled, in order to dilate the pupils as well as to numb the eye surface. This may cause some discomfort as the environment can appear to be brighter than you'd like due to the pupil dilation.
During the surgery:
Entering the OT - You will be wheeled into the operating theatre, and transferred onto the operating table if necessary. There will be much action going on as the theatre staff (not of the movie kind) prepares the necessary tools, cover you in a drape for a sterile field, hook you up to the monitoring equipment, and so on.
Sedation - Once the sedation starts, you are awake but very sleepy. Most of our patients do not remember much (if any) of the process
Tiny incision - The surgeon makes a very small opening at the edge of the cornea (the clear front part of the eye). The opening is so small that is generally heals on its own without stitches.
Breaking up the cataract - A thin instrument called a phaco probe, uses ultrasound waves to break the cloudy lens into tiny pieces which can then be removed by another instrument, while leaving the thin capsule of the original lens intact. This capsule will help in supporting the new and clear IOL (intra-ocular lens) that will be set in place to replace the cataractous lens that we have just removed.
Putting in a new lens - An IOL is inserted and positioned right where your original cloudy cataractous lens used to be.
Recovering - After final checks, you are taken off the sedation and will slowly recover and regain awareness of your surroundings. The tiny incision will heal on its own over time, and also with your care - using the eyedrops as indicated and avoiding any pressure or trauma to the eye. You will be transferred to a recovery area.
How long does the surgery take?
The surgery itself usually takes about 20-30 minutes for uncomplicated cases, but you will be placed on a trolley bed in preparation for the surgery, and then subsequently wheeled into the operating theatre where monitors are connected (e.g. to measure your blood pressure and pulse during the surgery). After the surgery, drapes need to be removed, and anaesthesia stopped before you are wheeled out. Hence, this process can take about an hour or so.
There is a also short recovery period to ensure that you are well before discharge.
In general you'd be able to go home on the same day unless further monitoring is required. However, do note that prior to the surgery, you will need to do the admission matters such as registration and settling financial issues, as well as the medical preparation like measuring of your vital signs.
Therefore, you should plan to be at the hospital or surgery centre for a total of about 4-5 hours.
How quickly does vision improve? Vision typically improves gradually over the next few days. It is important to show up at the post-operative appointments, where we check your vision, eye pressure, as well as the general state of the eye for any potential issues like excessive inflammation.
What is 'phacoemulsification'?
You may see this big word on insurance papers or in more technical articles. In essence it means the usage of an ultrasonic device to break up the cataracts for removal, which is a minimally invasive procedure as it only requires a small incision, relative to older techniques.
This allows for a potentially faster recover and better patient comfort.
Why do I have to go so much earlier before my surgery time?
Besides the surgery itself, you will need to be there for registration and to handle financial matters (e.g. making a deposit or signing off insurance papers). Before your surgery, the clinical team will also need to take your vitals as well as confirm the procedure, your identity, and handle administrative matters relating to your surgery. The anaesthetist would also look to make sure you are well for sedation and to do the necessary to allow for the sedation to happen properly.
Being there on time also helps you to feel less rushed.
I am anxious in a hospital environment.
The most 'busy' part of the cataracts surgery could just be at the admissions as the counter at either the hospital (e.g. Gleneagles Hospital) or at the surgery centre (e.g. Novaptus Surgery Centre) handle admissions for various types of surgery and not just for the eye. Hence we like to tell patients to go early so that it isn't so rushed, reducing the overall anxiety.
If you have concerns about the procedure or anything related to doing this surgery, do speak to us during your pre-operative visit in clinic. Keep calm and talk to us!
Do I really need to fast?
Yes. This is required for your safety. In general, you should stop eating or drinking 6 hours before surgery. Very small sips of water may be allowed up to two hours before you are admitted into the hospital or surgery centre.
Keeping this in mind, you may wish to plan your surgery in the morning or evening depending on your usual meal routine.
What medications do I need to use before and after the cataracts surgery?
When do I need to visit you again after the cataracts surgery?
During your pre-operative visit at our clinic, we will pass to you a checklist of important matters regarding admissions, medications, and follow-up appointments, which makes it easier for you to know what to expect and to plan your time accordingly.
Typically, we see you in clinic one day after the surgery, and subsequently a few days to a week later, and then about a month later. The visit intervals and number of visits can vary depending on your recovery progress - for instance if there is an increase in eye pressure or too much inflammation, we would want to see you at a shorter interval to ensure that any complications can be speedily looked at and managed.
What is the recovery like? Do I go back to bungy jumping the next day?
Immediately after surgery
Your eye may feel gritty, watery, or mildly sore
Vision is often blurry at first, which is normal
You will start using the eyedrops as prescribed
A protective eye shield is placed over the eye, especially for sleep
You can usually go home the same day
First few days
Vision often improves within 1–3 days, though clarity continues to sharpen
Mild redness or light sensitivity can occur
You’ll continue to use the eye drops as prescribed - this is to prevent infection and control inflammation
Vision usually stabilises within 1 to 2 months, although many patients would already feel the improvement in vision within the first few days after the cataracts surgery.
You can return to normal daily activities after about a week, taking into account that you should avoid sports or strenuous activities, or any activity that could cause something to hit the eye. Also avoid rubbing your eye since that can put excessive force onto the eye ball. Stay away from lifting heavy objects. Stay away from the swimming pool and sauna, or any dirty, very hot or windy or dusty environment.
Follow-up care
You’ll have follow-up visits to ensure proper healing and it is important to keep to the appointments. Glasses (if needed) are usually prescribed after vision stabilizes. If you have chosen IOL implants with astigmatism correction (toric lenses) or IOL implants that allow you to have an extended range of focus (EDOF lenses), it is typically less likely that you will need to rely on glasses that often, or at all.
Have concerns about cataracts surgery, IOL lens selection, or other questions? We welcome you to visit us.
