Frequently Asked Questions About Cataracts

  • What will my vision be like after surgery?

    • 99% of patients undergoing cataract surgery notice a significant improvement in their vision
    • It is normal for your eyesight to be slightly blurred for at least a couple of days, before improving progressively over the next few weeks.
      • Floaters are often more apparent immediately after surgery but usually become less noticeable with time.
    • Patients sometimes describe unusual colour tinges or ‘reflections’ in the first few weeks, which disappear as the brain adapts.
    • After 5-6 weeks I recommend that you see your optician to update your glasses, which will enable you to see as clearly as possible

  • Will daily activities be affected?

    For the first few days after surgery, patients are often less aware of objects in the peripheral vision of the operated eye and may find bright light dazzling. Therefore, expect to take some time to adjust to your change in eyesight, and be prepared to perform activities more slowly and carefully in the meantime. Please refer to the table below for guidance on when to resume common daily activities.
    Reading (Wear glasses or sunglasses to minimize dust in eyes and do not bend over ) Day after
    Showering/bath (Avoid water in eye) Day after
    Washing face (Avoid water in eye) Day after
    Tying shoe laces Day after
    Drinking alcohol Day after
    Walking (Wear glasses or sunglasses to minimize dust in eyes) Day after
    Straining (eg holding breath going to toilet) 1 week
    Cycling 1 week
    Gardening 2 weeks
    Dusty environments 2 weeks
    Flying 2 weeks
    Sex 2 weeks
    Eye make-up 2 weeks
    Aerobics 2 weeks
    Jogging 2 weeks
    Golf 2 weeks
    Bowls 2 weeks
    Swimming 6 weeks

  • When can I drive?

    This will depend upon how quickly you recover from the surgery and how good your vision is in the other eye. To drive legally you must be able to clearly read a number plate at 25 yards and have a normal field of vision with both eyes open. Even for patients with good vision in the non-operated eye, I generally advise to refrain from driving for at least one week. Other patients may have to wait until they have had new glasses made up 5-6 weeks post-operatively. We can discuss this fully at the time of your initial consultation

  • Do I need time off work?

    I recommend taking at least one week off work. Certain occupations will require longer, eg those which involve strenuous activity, where there is a risk of dust blowing into the eye or where high quality vision is necessary.

  • Can I wear my old glasses?

    Under most circumstances your old glasses will now have the wrong prescription for the operated eye, but still the correct prescription for the other eye. You can wear them if they are comfortable, until you see your optician.

  • When can I see my optician for new glasses?

    You need to wait for 5-6 weeks to allow your eye to fully recover. In the meantime, you may wear your old glasses without risk of damaging your eyes, though removing the glass from the operated side often provides better vision. A cheap pair of ‘off-the-shelf’ ready-reading glasses are likely to help you read as a short-term measure.

  • If my eye drops run out do I need to get more?

    Yes. You need to continue the eye drops for 4 weeks. You should contact your GP to pick up some more. Stopping the drops earlier than prescribed may lead to an inflamed, red and sore eye.

  • When is the cataract ready for surgery?

    Once your cataract starts to affect your vision it will slowly progress. The timing of surgery depends on lifestyle and activity. Essentially, I advise that it is appropriate to proceed if:
    1. You wish to continue or resume driving and your current vision fails to meet the DVLA standard.
    2. If you feel frustrated enough by your blurred vision to justify in your own mind the risks of the operation.

  • Can both cataracts be removed from both eyes at the same time?

    This is highly unusual. Typically, the soonest I would choose to remove the second cataract is 2-3 weeks after the first.

  • What are The Risks of Cataract Surgery?

    Like all operations, cataract surgery is not completely without risk. Those risks will depend on the experience and skill of the surgeon as well as the technical difficulties associated with the nature of your particular eye/cataract. Your specific risks will be discussed in detail with you at the initial consultation. On average, 99 out of 100 eyes operated on in the UK will see better. Taking into account the different levels of complexity of surgery for different patients, serious complications leading to permanent loss of vision to some degree occur in approximately 0.1% (1 in 1000).

  • How long does the intraocular lens implant last?

    The lens implants are left in place for life and do not need to be replaced.

  • Can a cataract come back?

    No it cannot. However, in the first 1-2 years it is quite common for the membrane that holds the lens in place to develop some thickening and there can be blurring of vision as a result. Should it occur, this can be easily and quickly dealt with by outpatient laser treatment using a YAG laser (a YAG laser capsulotomy).

About Mr. Karl Whittaker

I graduated from Birmingham University in 1992, and have been an Eye Specialist for almost 20 years.

Following my Ophthalmology Specialist Training, I completed two Fellowships (advanced training) in glaucoma, working with the world-renowned Professor Anthony Molteno in New Zealand and Professor Peter Shah in Birmingham. Thereafter, I undertook a Fellowship in oculoplastic/lacrimal surgery, again in Birmingham. As a result, I am dual-qualified, which allows me to perform a wide range of ophthalmic procedures.

I have been a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the North Devon Healthcare NHS Trust since 2003. In this role, I perform high volume cataract surgery and am the Clinical Lead for the Glaucoma and Oculoplastic/Lacrimal Surgery services.

Practice Location

  • Ophthalmology Department
  • Level 1
  • North Devon District Hospital
  • Barnstaple
  • EX31 4JB

Tel: 07503751349 | 01271 349128
Email: karlwhittaker@devoneyesurgeon.co.uk

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