Most people resume many normal daily activities soon after cataract surgery, but some tasks are introduced gradually. The timing depends on comfort, vision and professional guidance.
Typical progression
Light household tasks and walking are usually possible within a day or two, while driving is only restarted once legal visual standards are met and confirmed at follow-up. Heavier lifting, strenuous exercise and activities that risk eye trauma are often delayed for at least a short period.
- Protective shields are commonly worn at night in the early days
- Soap and water should be kept out of the eye while showering
- Swimming pools, hot tubs and dusty environments are generally avoided initially
- Written instructions from the surgical team give procedure-specific time frames
