Most patients experience little to no discomfort during the cataract surgery procedure, and any mild irritation afterwards typically resolves within a few days.
Laser Eye Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
Eye Care and Laser Eye Surgery FAQs
Cataract surgery is recommended when vision impairment starts affecting daily activities like reading, driving, or recognising faces. While cataracts develop gradually, early removal can lead to smoother recovery and better outcomes. A consultation with a specialist can determine the right timing for you.
Most patients experience improved vision within 24-48 hours, but full recovery can take a few weeks. You may need to avoid strenuous activities, swimming, and rubbing your eyes during the healing process. Follow-up visits ensure your recovery is on track.
Laser Procedure
Yes, lubricating and medicated drops may be prescribed to aid healing and keep your eyes comfortable.
Lens Surgery
Yes, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drops are required to prevent infection and support recovery.
Laser Procedure
Light activities can usually resume within a few days, but high-impact sports and swimming should be avoided for at least two weeks.
Lens Surgery
Gentle exercise can be resumed after a few days, but strenuous activity and swimming should be avoided for at least two weeks.
Laser Procedure
Most patients can return to normal activities within 24–48 hours, though some mild dryness or sensitivity may persist for a few weeks.
Lens Surgery
Recovery typically takes a few days to a week, with vision stabilising over several weeks as your eyes adjust.
Laser eye surgery involves permanent changes to the cornea, the clear dome-shaped surface of the eye, and is particularly suitable for myopia, hyperopia , and astigmatism. While laser eye surgery is designed to last a lifetime, age-related vision changes may lead to the need for further enhancement to accommodate age-related changes.
Lens implant surgery, usually reserved for older patients, is permanent following lens replacement (RLE) procedures, however, implantable contact lenses (ICLs) may be removed and replaced with a new ICL if required.
You will be required to take time off work as per any other medical appointment to attend your laser eye or lens implant surgery. Your procedure will be a day surgery procedure, so you should be able to return to work on the following day. You will also be advised to attend post-operative appointments one day, one week, one month and six months after your surgery.
Most patients experience little to no discomfort during the laser eye surgery procedure, and any mild irritation afterwards typically resolves within a few days.
Most people are able to resume daily activities such as returning to work, driving, and playing sports within one to two days following their laser eye surgery or lens implant procedures. Swimming and water activities, however, are recommended to be delayed for at least one to two weeks. People undergoing lens implant surgery (ICL or RLE) should also avoid strenuous activities or exercise for at least one week following their procedure.
Laser eye surgery is suitable for most people over the age of 18 years who have had stable vision or a stable eye prescription for at least 12 months and who do not have any underlying eye disease or trauma, or any underlying health issues. It is not recommended for people who are pregnant, and it may not be recommended if you are over a certain age and where other forms of eye surgery may be more suitable. To find out your suitability, a complimentary screening assessment with the Lasersight team is recommended.