Before surgery: assessment and planning
Your first appointment is about gathering information, not booking an operation. A detailed eye examination checks the health of the whole eye, not just the lens, since other conditions - dry eye, glaucoma, retinal changes - can affect both the surgical plan and your expected visual outcome. Precise measurements of your eye's shape (biometry) are taken to calculate the power of the replacement lens.
This is also when lens options are discussed. A standard monofocal lens gives excellent focus at one distance, usually set for clear distance vision, with reading glasses used for close work. Premium lens options aim to reduce dependence on glasses across a wider range of distances, though they are not suitable for every eye and every visual need.
During surgery: what actually happens
Cataract surgery is almost always performed as day case surgery under local anaesthetic, meaning you're awake but the eye is fully numbed. A very small incision is made at the edge of the cornea, through which the clouded natural lens is broken up and removed using ultrasound energy, then replaced with a folded artificial lens that unfolds into position inside the eye. The incision is small enough that it typically seals itself without stitches.
The procedure itself usually takes between fifteen and thirty minutes. Most patients describe pressure or brief odd sensations rather than pain, and many are surprised by how quick the appointment feels overall once preparation and recovery time either side are included.
Immediately after: the first 24–48 hours
A protective shield is often worn over the eye, particularly overnight, to prevent accidental rubbing. Mild grittiness, light sensitivity and blurred vision are normal in the first day or two as the eye settles. Eye drops are prescribed to reduce inflammation and infection risk, and it's important to use them exactly as directed even once the eye starts to feel normal.
The following weeks: settling and stabilising
Many patients notice a marked improvement in vision within days, though full stabilisation - as any residual swelling resolves - can take up to four to six weeks. Activities like swimming, heavy lifting and eye make-up are usually paused for a short period, with specific guidance given at your post-operative appointment.
The eye heals gradually even after vision feels back to normal - which is why the follow-up appointment matters as much as the surgery itself.
Follow-up and the second eye
A follow-up appointment, typically within the first few weeks, confirms the eye has healed well and checks the achieved visual outcome against what was planned. If both eyes need treatment, the second is usually scheduled a few weeks after the first, once the initial eye has stabilised and any lessons from it can inform the second procedure.
If blurred vision, glare or fading colours are starting to affect your daily life, a cataract assessment is a straightforward first step - even if you're not yet sure you want surgery.