Painful? – Is cataract surgery painful?

Cataract surgery is generally not painful. You’ll be awake during the procedure, but your eye will be numbed beforehand using anesthetic eye drops, so most patients only feel mild sensations such as pushing and pressure. On the rare occasion that discomfort or pain occurs, your surgeon during your surgery will advise you on how to alert them. The nurse looking after you will insert a tiny pellet into your eye to dilate it before surgery. This ensures the surgeon has the best possible view of your eye during surgery and helps to minimise the risk of any complications.  

When your anaesthetic wears off a few hours after your surgery, you may feel some slight discomfort for a day or two, but don’t worry – this is usually minimal and can be easily managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Once your cataract surgery is completed, your nurse will talk you through your post-surgery eye care, ensuring you know what to do in terms of managing any mild discomfort and taking care of your eye after surgery. Following this advice will help your eye to heal as quickly as possible.