Can I Drive After Cataract Surgery?

Today, most cataract surgery is done on an outpatient basis, and the entire process usually takes no more than 2 hours from check-in to heading home! The procedure itself usually lasts less than 15 minutes and is virtually painless. 

Typically, cataract surgery is performed under local anesthesia and the recovery time is minor. Most patients are seeing clearly just one day after surgery, with little or no discomfort. Although you are not put to sleep with general anesthesia for the procedure, you will not be allowed to drive yourself home and will likely not be cleared to drive for at least 24 hours. 

The day after surgery you will have a follow-up visit with our doctors, who will evaluate your recovery and test your vision. Typically, vision is greatly improved immediately after surgery, however each patient responds to cataract surgery in their own way, so some people might recover more quickly than others. Our doctors may advise you to avoid driving for a longer period of time, just to be safe. This means you should plan on having someone to drive you home immediately following your surgery and back to our office the day after for your follow-up visit.

Cataract surgery is one of the safest, most successful surgeries involving the eye. Most people notice a significant improvement in their vision and can resume everyday activities, including driving, within 24 hours after cataract surgery. To learn more about cataract surgery in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, or Portsmouth, contact Tidewater Eye at 757-483-0400 or website.