What type of glasses will i need after cataract surgery

By David F. Chang MD

Immediately after cataract surgery, the vision will be temporarily blurry. There are normal differences between different individuals, and even between eyes of the same individual, so try not to compare your recovery to other friends or family members. Typically, the vision is clear and more stable by 1 week following surgery. Using your operated eye will neither harm nor delay its recovery.

How do I obtain temporary reading glasses?

Depending on what was planned, most (but not all) eyes will regain better distance vision during the first week. At this point, inexpensive “Over-the-Counter” reading glasses can be used to help you read. These temporary OTC readers may not be perfect, but they are harmless to wear and often provide good reading vision. They are sold at optical shops, and at most drug, grocery, and department stores. They are made and labeled in 10 different powers that increase in 0.25 increments from +1.00 up to +3.50. The higher the power, the closer the focus will be set. If two different powers both seem to work, then select the lower of the two. For certain tasks that are further away than your normal reading distance (e.g., desktop computer), a lower power should work better. Like with sizing a hat, trial and error should help you to find a power that works adequately for your preferred reading distance. It is best to wait a few days after surgery to get temporary reading glasses to allow for some initial recovery of vision.

What if my two eyes have very different prescriptions?

This sometimes happens after only one eye has had cataract surgery, and the opposite eye has a very different prescription. In this case, your old prescription glasses won’t match the newly operated eye; however, there is no harm wearing them if they help the opposite eye. If the old prescription lens is way off or bothersome, it can be removed from that side of your eyeglass frame. Our opticians can assist with this. Depending on how strong the unoperated eye’s prescription lens is, this still may not be that comfortable, but there is no harm in trying this.

Another option is to not wear your old eyeglasses, and to use the “new” eye without glasses for as many tasks as possible. You shouldn’t expect store-bought reading glasses to work for both eyes in this case. Instead, pick a pair that works with the operated eye. If you are eventually going to have cataract surgery on your second eye, these reading glasses should work much better after the second operation. Whatever eyeglass strategy you try, it may take a few days for your brain to adapt to the new approach.

When should I get new eyeglasses made?

It is usually advisable to wait for closer to a month following surgery before getting any new prescription eyeglasses. Because the prescription may not be stable until then, doing this too soon may result in having to change your eyeglasses a second time.

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Glasses play an important role in managing your vision if you have cataracts — both before and after surgery. We understand that you might have a few questions, so here’s all you need to know about wearing glasses at each stage of your cataract journey.

Wearing glasses before cataract surgery

Can glasses help with cataracts?

In the early stages of cataract formation, you may get along well enough with using prescription glasses to maintain your eyesight. Often your optometrist will recommend that you have more regular eye tests to ensure that your lens prescription remains up-to-date, and your vision is as clear as possible.

However, as your cataracts develop, as is normal over time, you could reach a point where new glasses won’t be enough to correct your cloudy vision, and other problems associated. You may begin to find it difficult to read and perform other activities or have trouble seeing clearly while driving. At this point, your optometrist will not be able to prescribe increasingly powerful glasses and instead may discuss referring you to an ophthalmologist or eye doctor for cataract surgery.

Wearing glasses after cataract surgery

Glasses can play an important part in your recovery following cataract surgery recovery as your eye behind to heal and adjust to the new lens that has been fitted.

How long should you wear dark glasses after cataract surgery?

After your surgery, your doctor may recommend that you wear dark sunglasses to help your eyes to heal and adjust to their new lens that has been inserted into the eye as part of the surgery. You’ll notice that your eyes are particularly sensitive to light during this period, so it’s important to wear a good quality pair of dark sunglasses (even on cloudy days) to block out bright light and minimise glare. You may need to wear these sunglasses throughout the healing process (3-8 weeks), and afterwards whenever your eyes feel particularly sensitive. 

Browse our full range of sunglasses

Do you still need to wear glasses after cataract surgery?

In general, most people experience a significant improvement in their vision following cataract surgery. Whether or not you will still need to wear glasses after surgery can depend on a number of factors, including: the type of lens you have fitted during surgery (whether it’s monofocal or multifocal), your prescription beforehand, your overall eye health, and whether you have an astigmatism. For most people, they will still need to wear glasses for specific activities like reading, regardless of these factors.

Can you wear your old glasses after cataract surgery?

As your vision should improve after surgery, it’s most likely that your old prescription glasses will no longer work for your eyes. That’s why it’s so important to book an eye test with your optician post-surgery so that you can get a new pair of glasses with an updated prescription.

How long should you wait to get new glasses after cataract surgery?

It’s a good idea to wait until six to eight weeks  after your cataract surgery before getting a new pair of glasses — your surgeon will advise you on this. By this point your eyes should be recovered enough, so your optician will be able to make an accurate assessment of your vision, and whether you might still need glasses.

Do you wear contact lenses instead of glasses?

Read our guide on whether you can wear contact lenses after cataract surgery here.

Which glasses are best for after cataracts surgery?

If it happens that you do need to wear glasses after your surgery, there are a number of options for you, depending on your specific needs.

For instance, if you have a monofocal lens fitted during your surgery (which is the case in most NHS procedures), then it might be that you still find it difficult for your eyes to adjust at different distances. In this case, your optician might recommend varifocal lenses to help improve your vision far away, as well as up-close.

Whichever style of frames you decide on for your new glasses, we recommend also getting lenses with a sun tint and UV treatment or polarising lenses to keep your sensitive eyes protected against UV damage. If your eyes are particularly sensitive, you might find that a pair of prescription sunglasses or even reactions lenses may suit you best. Reactions lenses darken or lighten automatically in different lighting conditions — saving you the trouble of switching between glasses for different environments. Your optician will be able to give you more information on the best glasses for you post-surgery.

Looking for more information on cataracts glasses? Head over to the cataracts hub to learn more about the condition. Need a little inspiration? Visit our #LoveGlasses blog for more useful tips on choosing glasses.

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