A mildly scratchy or gritty eye can be part of the early healing process. This discomfort often begins to ease within a few days. Sharp, severe, or worsening pain after cataract surgery needs prompt medical attention.
M&M Eye Institute provides cataract care for patients in Prescott, Prescott Valley, and Chino Valley. Your surgeon’s instructions should guide your recovery, including whom to contact when symptoms change.
Worried about pain after cataract surgery? You don’t have to make a decision when there are unanswered questions. The team at M&M Eye Institute can walk you through what to expect during surgery and recovery and discuss your concerns. Call (928) 445-1234 to schedule a cataract consultation.
Expected Discomfort During Early Healing
Mild irritation can occur as your eye heals. You may notice:
- A scratchy feeling, as though an eyelash or grain of sand is in your eye.
- Mild watering or tenderness.
- Sensitivity to light.
These symptoms should generally improve. Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye, even when it feels itchy. Contact your surgical team if your discomfort increases or if you are unsure whether your symptoms align with your recovery instructions.
Symptoms That Need Prompt Medical Attention
Severe pain or a sudden change in vision requires urgent attention. Contact your surgical team immediately for:
- Severe pain or pain that continues despite the medicine your surgeon recommended.
- Sudden vision loss or rapidly worsening vision.
- Increasing redness, swelling, or sticky discharge.
- New flashes, new floaters, or a shadow or curtain across your vision.
- Eye pain accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
The American Society of Retina Specialists identifies flashes, floaters, and a curtain-like shadow as possible symptoms of retinal detachment. These changes need urgent assessment, even if your eye does not hurt.
Follow the emergency instructions provided by your surgical team. M&M Eye Institute patients should call (928) 445-1234 immediately during business hours. For emergency symptoms after hours, call 911. Do not wait for a routine appointment or an online reply.
Why Your Eye May Feel Irritated After Surgery
Surface Healing
The eye’s surface can feel sensitive during early recovery. A gritty sensation may feel like something is stuck in your eye, even when there is no loose eyelash or other object.
Describe that sensation to your care team if it persists. Do not rub your eye or try to remove something yourself.
Dry Eye
Dry eye can develop after cataract surgery, and existing dryness may become more noticeable. Tears help keep the eye’s surface comfortable. When they do not provide enough lubrication, you may experience burning, scratchiness, or fluctuating blurry vision.
If you had dry eye before surgery, tell your surgical team. Dry eye care addresses symptoms such as burning and grittiness. Your surgeon should guide any treatment during recovery.
Dry eye is one possible explanation for irritation. An examination may be needed to identify the cause of ongoing pain or vision changes.
How Discomfort Changes During Recovery
Early irritation and complete healing follow different timelines. Mild discomfort often improves within the first few days, while the eye continues healing afterward.
The National Eye Institute’s cataract surgery guidance notes that most people are fully healed within eight weeks. Your recovery may differ depending on your eye health and procedure.
A longer healing window does not mean persistent or worsening pain is expected. Contact your surgeon if discomfort is not improving, returns after getting better, or begins weeks or months later. Explain when it started and whether your vision has changed.
Following Your Surgeon’s Recovery Plan
Your individual care plan should guide you in protecting your eye and managing discomfort.
- Use prescribed drops or other medicines exactly as directed.
- Wear your protective shield if your surgeon recommends one.
- Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye.
- Ask before adding artificial tears, other eye drops, or pain medicine.
- Keep follow-up appointments and report symptoms that are not improving.
Restrictions on driving, lifting, exercise, and swimming depend on your surgeon’s instructions. Our guide to cataract surgery recovery covers a broader range of questions. Use it alongside the instructions you received from your care team.
Comfort During Cataract Surgery
During cataract surgery, medicine numbs the eye to help you stay comfortable. Most patients experience little or no pain during the procedure, although individual experiences vary.
You may notice lights or movement while you are awake. Tell your surgical team if you feel pain or discomfort so they can respond.
Contact Your Surgical Cataract Team
You do not have to decide on your own whether a recovery symptom needs attention. If discomfort is not improving or you have questions about your instructions, contact your surgical team.
M&M Eye Institute patients can call (928) 445-1234 during business hours for guidance. For severe pain, sudden vision loss, or other emergency symptoms after hours, call 911.