Driving after cataract surgery depends on whether your vision meets legal standards and you feel safe and comfortable. This is usually confirmed at an early post‑operative visit.
Immediately After Surgery
You must not drive on the day of the operation.
- Arrange for someone to take you home, as your eye will be dilated and vision may be blurred.
- Most patients are reviewed within the first week to assess visual acuity, eye pressure, and healing.
- Your clinician will advise when daytime driving is safe, often once the operated eye sees clearly and comfortably.
- Never drive if you feel dazzled, in pain, or unsure about your vision.
Night Driving and Binocular Vision
Adaptation to night‑time conditions and to any difference between the two eyes may take longer.
- Glare or halos around lights can be more noticeable in the early weeks, particularly with multifocal implants.
- Consider limiting night driving until these symptoms improve and both eyes feel balanced.
- Use lubricating drops before longer journeys to reduce dryness.
- Report persistent glare, double vision, or difficulty judging distances so they can be assessed.
