Below is a list of commonly asked questions, click the question and you will be taken to the relevant answer. Can I do Activities after the operation? Can Cataracts come back after being removed? When can I drive? When can I wash my hair? When can I bend and stoop? When can I fly? What if I get a complication afterwards? What if I move during the operation? Is surgery the only option to treat a cataract? Does cataract surgery hurt? Will I be asleep during cataract surgery? How long will I be in the hospital? How long before I can see after surgery? Are there any side effects? Anything I won't like? Can the lens be replaced if it doesn't work? Any precautions after surgery?     Can i do Activities after the operation?   You should take things easy for the first few days. You may bend and stoop but it is probably better to avoid heavy lifting for about ten days. You may wash you hair. The greatest danger is poking or rubbing the eye. This could cause the valve to open making the wound leak. Because some people rub their eyes in their sleep we advise you to wear the protective shield which will provided by the clinic at night in bed for the first week only. After this time you may gradually get back to full normal activities.   Back to the top Can Cataracts come back after being removed?   Once a cataract has been removed it cannot recur. However the fine membrane on which the implant rests can occasionally become cloudy and causes the vision to deteriorate again. When this happens we can remove the cloudiness with a laser. This is done in the outpatients department, is painless and takes about 2 minutes. There is a misconception that some people think that this laser can remove a whole cataract. It cannot, but it can remove the cloudiness which can come after the operation.   Back to the top When can I drive?   Most patients’ vision is adequate to drive the next day. Many patients prefer to rest for the first few days.   Back to the top When can I wash my hair?   Within a few days.   Back to the top When can I bend and stoop?   The self sealing incision allows patients to bend and stoop straightaway.   Back to the top When can I fly?   Straightaway.   Back to the top What if I get a complication afterwards?   Call us immediately and tell us what you feel is wrong. We will see you immediately if necessary. We can be contacted 24 hours a day every day.   Back to the top What if I move during the operation?   Most people worry about this but it is not a problem.   Back to the top Is surgery the only option to treat a cataract?   Just because you have a cataract does not mean that you have to have it removed. Cataract surgery only becomes necessary if you are not happy with your vision and want to see better. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your vision.   Back to the top Does cataract surgery hurt?   Thanks to numbing drops and medications to help you relax, this procedure involves minimal discomfort.   Back to the top Will I be asleep during cataract surgery?   Since this procedure does not take very long, it is unnecessary to put you completely asleep with general anesthesia. Instead, your surgeon will use a local/topical anesthetic to numb your eye and you will remain awake during the surgery.   Back to the top How long will I be in the hospital?   Patients commonly spend only a few hours at the hospital or surgery center, and are allowed to go home the very same day.   Back to the top How long before I can see after surgery?   Every patient and every eye is different, but patients commonly see well enough to drive the day after surgery. Ask your doctor how quickly he or she expects you to recover.   Back to the top Are there any side effects? Anything I won't like?   There is a chance that you will experience halos or glare in your vision, but this is uncommon and usually goes away in time. Your intermediate (in-between) vision may not be as crisp as you near and distance vision, but four out of five AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL patients in the clinical study reported never needing glasses following cataract surgery in both eyes. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. You and your doctor should consider the potential risks and benefits, and determine if the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL is right for you.   Back to the top Can the lens be replaced if it doesn't work?   Although this would be unlikely, the IOL can be replaced with a different one if needed. Ask your surgeon how they would handle this situation.   Back to the top Any precautions after surgery?   Every patient is different, so be sure to ask your doctor for advice on caring for your eye after the procedure. Your doctor may ask you to refrain from rubbing your eye or engaging in any strenuous activity for a few weeks after surgery.   Back to the top