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How long should I wait before cataract surgery on my second eye?

Cataract usually develops in both eyes, though often more in one than the other. Once the first eye has been operated and you see how clear and bright things look, it is natural to want the second eye done soon. This guide explains how the gap is decided and how to manage the weeks in between. For an overview, see cataract surgery in Vasco, Goa.

Why not operate on both eyes on the same day?

Doing one eye at a time is the usual practice in most places, for a few reasons:

• Safety. Infection after cataract surgery is rare but serious. Doing the eyes on separate days means a problem in one eye cannot affect both at once.
• Learning from the first eye. How the first eye heals, and the spectacle power it ends up with, can help the surgeon fine-tune the lens for the second eye.
• Your reaction to the drops and the surgery. Any inflammation or pressure rise in the first eye can be noted and planned for.
• Comfort. With one eye seeing during recovery, daily life is easier.

Surgery on both eyes on the same day is done in some centres for selected patients, with each eye prepared and treated as a separate operation. It is not suitable for everyone. Ask our eye surgeon whether it would be right for you.

How many days between the two eyes?

There is no fixed rule. Often the gap is one to a few weeks, once the first eye is comfortable, the early checks are satisfactory and the inflammation has settled. The gap can be longer if:

• The first eye needs more time to heal
• Your sugar or blood pressure needs better control
• You or your family need time to arrange travel or an escort
• The cataract in the second eye is still mild and not troubling you

There is no need to rush, and also no need to wait many months if the second eye is affecting your vision.

Why do my eyes feel unbalanced between the two surgeries?

After the first eye, the two eyes can see very differently. The operated eye sees clearly and colours look bright and slightly bluish, while the other eye still sees through a yellowish cataract. The spectacle powers of the two eyes may also be quite different, so your old spectacles may feel wrong. Some people notice:

• Strain or a feeling of imbalance
• Trouble judging steps and distances
• Seeing better with one eye closed

This is temporary. Take extra care on stairs and roads. Sometimes the lens of your old spectacles on the operated side can be changed or removed for the weeks in between; ask our eye surgeon or the team at our Vision Correction Centre before changing anything.

Does the second eye need its own lens power test?

Each eye is measured, because the length and shape of the two eyes can differ. Often both eyes are measured before the first surgery. The surgeon may also use the result in the first eye to adjust the lens chosen for the second. Read the lens power test.

Should both eyes have the same type of lens?

Usually, yes. Multifocal lenses in particular are normally planned for both eyes. Sometimes the plan differs between eyes: a toric lens only in the eye with astigmatism, or one eye set for distance and the other for near. Your surgeon discusses this before the first surgery, so that the two eyes work well together. See choosing a lens for cataract surgery.

Is surgery on the second eye any different?

The steps are the same. Some people find the second operation feels a little different, perhaps because they are more aware of what is happening. If you feel any discomfort, tell the team, as more numbing can be given. The care afterwards is the same as for the first eye; see precautions after cataract surgery.

When do I get new spectacles?

Usually a few weeks after the second eye, once both eyes have settled, your spectacle power is checked and new spectacles, often for reading, can be made. If only one eye is operated, the timing is advised for you.

What if I am travelling from another town?

If you live far from Vasco or a family member is coming from abroad, ask whether both eyes can be planned within one stretch of time, with the follow-ups in between. Read cataract surgery for elderly parents for a family checklist. ReNew Vision Eye Hospital, Vaddem, Vasco: eye OPD Monday to Saturday, 4 pm to 7 pm; call or WhatsApp 072489 88039.

Questions patients ask

Can both eyes have cataract surgery on the same day?

It is done in some centres for selected patients, with each eye treated as a separate operation. Most people have the eyes done on separate days. Ask our eye surgeon whether same-day surgery would suit you.

How many days after the first eye can the second eye be done?

There is no fixed rule. Often it is one to a few weeks, once the first eye has settled and the early checks are satisfactory. Your surgeon advises the gap for you.

Why do colours look brighter after the first eye?

The cloudy, yellowish lens has been removed, so colours look brighter and sometimes slightly blue in the operated eye. The other eye still sees through the cataract, which makes the difference easy to notice.

Do I need new glasses between the two surgeries?

Usually not. Your old spectacles may feel unbalanced for a few weeks. Sometimes the lens on the operated side can be changed or removed for this time. New spectacles are made once both eyes have settled.

What if I have cataract in only one eye?

Then only that eye is operated when the cataract affects your vision. The other eye is checked at your regular eye check-ups.

This page is general eye-health information, not personal medical advice. Your eye doctor advises you after examining your eyes.