Pre & Post-Op Care
Essential Guide for a Safe Surgery
Pre-Operative Guidelines
Please follow the guidelines below to ensure a safe cataract surgery and optimal results.
Please inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking. In particular, blood thinners (aspirin, warfarin, etc.), prostate medications, and diabetes medications may affect the surgery and may need to be adjusted beforehand. Do not discontinue any medication without your doctor's instructions.
Apply the prescribed antibiotic eye drops 4 times daily for 3 days before surgery. This is an important step to prevent infection at the surgical site.
Do not wear eye makeup, eye cream, lotion, or perfume on the day of surgery. Wash your face lightly and come to the clinic. Please also remove nail polish (needed for oxygen saturation monitoring).
You will not be able to drive on the day of surgery. Please come with a companion or use public transportation. Avoid driving for 1-2 days after surgery as well.
A light meal is permitted if the surgery is performed under local anesthesia (topical anesthesia). However, if general anesthesia is required, fasting is necessary, so please follow the medical team's instructions in advance.
Post-Operative Recovery Process
Here is a guide to the post-operative care and recovery process at each stage after cataract surgery.
Day of Surgery
- Wear the protective eye shield after surgery (recommended while sleeping for 1 week).
- Do not rub or touch your eyes.
- Use prescribed eye drops as directed.
- Rest at home; only light walking is permitted.
- Minimize TV watching and smartphone use.
Day 1 (Next-Day Check-up)
- Visit the clinic for your follow-up examination (mandatory visit).
- The protective eye shield is removed and vision is assessed.
- Your vision will begin to brighten and improve.
- Be careful not to get water in your eyes when washing your face.
- Light daily activities may be resumed.
1 Week
- Attend your follow-up examination.
- Vision begins to stabilize.
- Gentle face washing and showering are permitted (avoid direct water contact with eyes).
- Continue wearing the protective eye shield while sleeping.
- Avoid excessive bending or lifting heavy objects.
2-4 Weeks
- Vision stabilizes (adaptation period continues for multifocal lenses).
- Light exercise is permitted.
- Eye makeup is permitted.
- Driving is permitted (after confirming stable vision).
- Saunas, steam rooms, and swimming are still not permitted.
1-3 Months
- Final vision is stabilized.
- Adaptation to multifocal lenses for near and far vision is complete.
- Glasses or reading glasses may be prescribed during this period if needed.
- Swimming, saunas, and most activities are permitted.
- Regular check-ups at 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year intervals are recommended.
Eye Drop Usage Guide
| Eye Drop Type | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Antibiotic Eye Drops | 4 times daily | Approx. 2-4 weeks |
| Anti-Inflammatory Eye Drops | 4 times daily (gradually tapering) | Approx. 4-8 weeks |
| Artificial Tears | As needed | Can be used long-term |
* Eye drop types and duration may vary depending on the patient's condition. Please follow your doctor's instructions.
Eye Drop Application Order
When using multiple types of eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between each. Order: Antibiotic → (5 min) → Anti-inflammatory → (5 min) → Artificial tears. Wash your hands before application and ensure the dropper tip does not touch your eye or eyelashes.
Please Follow These Instructions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Vision begins to brighten and improve from the day after surgery. For monofocal lenses, vision stabilizes within 1-2 weeks; for multifocal/extended depth-of-focus lenses, adaptation for near, intermediate, and far vision may take 1-3 months. Full vision stabilization takes approximately 3 months.
Cataracts do not recur on the artificial intraocular lens itself. However, months to years after surgery, the posterior capsule holding the lens may become cloudy, a condition called 'posterior capsule opacification' (approximately 20-30% probability). This can be easily treated with a YAG laser on an outpatient basis, painlessly and within 5 minutes.
Generally, one eye is operated on first, followed by the other eye 1-2 weeks later. This allows verification of the first surgery's results and reduces the risk of complications such as infection. The schedule may be adjusted based on the patient's situation, so please consult with your doctor.
Typically, antibiotic eye drops are used for 2-4 weeks and anti-inflammatory eye drops for 4-8 weeks. Artificial tears may be used long-term as needed. The type, frequency, and duration of eye drops vary depending on the surgical method and recovery progress, so please follow your doctor's instructions precisely.