Should I be Driving After Cataract Surgery?

More than 25 million Americans must, unfortunately, deal with cataracts. But you don’t have to be one of them. Over the course of a year, thousands of surgeons perform millions of cataract surgeries, making it among the most time-and-clinically tested procedures in the world.

The prevalence of cataracts is due to aging. All bodily tissues break down as we age, and the eyes are no exception. As such, the proteins in the eye’s lens start losing their structural integrity for individuals as young as 40 years of age. As more and more proteins become busted, they aggregate on the lens, turning it progressively more opaque and blocking light from reaching the photoreceptive cells of the retina.

This clouding of the vision will not reverse or resolve itself, so treatment is crucial. No other ocular complication causes as many cases of blindness worldwide, and, left untreated, cataracts can rob you of your sight. At Precision Surgery Center of Napa Valley, we’d love to restore your visual acuity and overall ocular wellness, so contact us today in Napa, CA.

What do I need to know before undergoing cataract surgery?

During your comprehensive consultation, we’ll assess your ocular status along with your medical history and lifestyle factors. We’ll also evaluate the severity of your cataracts and whether they affect one or both eyes. We can discuss your desires and the expectations and specifics of your procedure.

An ideal candidate will be in good general health, and we’ll also check for the presence of other disorders. Using these criteria, our eye specialists will formulate the most effective solution possible. This unique care extends beyond your procedure, with a tailored recovery plan as well as tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your treatment.

During cataract surgery at Precision Surgery Center of Napa Valley, you'll receive mild sedation numbing eye drops, so you should not experience any significant discomfort. Once you’re nice and relaxed in our well-appointed treatment room, we’ll begin by using a device to hold your eyelids open. The next step is a tiny incision on the surface of the eye, allowing access to the cataract-clouded lens beneath. Then, using our state-of-the-art equipment, we destroy cataracts.

This process also necessitates the fragmentation of the eye’s lens, but this isn’t a problem since the cataract-clouded lens is no longer optimally functional. Once we suction out these fragments, we’ll place a synthetic intraocular lens, or IOL. And that’s it; you’re done and will soon enjoy clearer, brighter vision and restored ocular health.

Should patients drive after cataract surgery?

You will not be able to drive after cataract surgery, so you will need to have someone take you home to rest your eyes for proper recuperation. While the healing process varies among patients, many are enamored to find that their vision dramatically improves within a few days after surgery and possibly as quickly as 24 hours. This is also generally the timeline you’ll have to wait before you can drive again.

Though nothing is set in stone, we can offer more specific details based on your personal factors and the particulars of your procedure. Overall, your eyes may require up to six weeks for full recovery, after which you may receive a new prescription if you wear prescription lenses.

Crush cataracts by calling us today

Cataract surgery is a virtually painless outpatient procedure that has provided outstanding outcomes for untold millions of past patients. And you can benefit from this safe, effective treatment dispensed by our caring, experienced ocular team. All you have to do for a clearer, brighter tomorrow is to reach out to us today at Precision Surgery Center of Napa Valley in Napa, CA.