Cataract surgery often takes 30-45 minutes. It is done under local anesthesia, and you can go home the same day. You should be able to see things in focus, differentiate colors, and look into bright lights within hours of the surgery.

After the surgery, there are some things you shouldn’t do. Here are some precautions you need to take.

Do not rub your eyes – remember your eye is still healing even if you can see clearly. Rubbing your eyes may remove or dislodge the stitches. This can cause infection or delay the healing process. Instead, wipe your eye with a clean and sterile cloth.

Do not take a shower for 24 hours – you do not want to get water and soap in your eye. Instead, use a wet cloth to wipe your face.

Don’t drive – you should not drive after the surgery. You will need to visit the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to ensure that you meet the requirements for driving.

Do not wear eye makeup – there is always a risk of the makeup getting into your eye, no matter how careful you may be. Makeup will irritate your eye and may even cause an infection.

Do not swim – avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, and saunas as you heal. Water may get into your eye and potentially cause an infection. Take at least four to six weeks before swimming.

Do not play sports that may cause eye injury – some high-risk sports include tennis, football, hockey, baseball, and water polo. You do not want the ball hitting your eye when it is recovering.

Do not indulge in strenuous activities – strenuous activities like lifting weights may increase pressure in your eyes. If possible, avoid sneezing, coughing, and passing hard stools.

Do not go to dusty areas – avoid dusty areas to prevent dust from getting into your eye.