Typically, there is very little pain during or after the surgery, and people can go about their normal activities right away. Few restrictions exist afterward, most people can golf, drive, shop, or visit friends without worry. Often people comment on their desire to have their other eye done soon after their initial surgery! Improvement is usually rapid; as the eye heals, generally the vision improves within hours or days. The surgeon will replace the cataract with a lens that often corrects most near or farsightedness, and can result in glasses that are very thin and used primarily for reading.
Occasionally, after cataract surgery, a person will need a laser to remove a film from behind the implant. This film clouds over in approximately 25% of all persons following surgery and the laser used removes the film in just 2-3 minutes. Once removed, the film will not return.
