What to expect during and after an eye operation?

During an eye operation, patients are usually given local anesthesia or numbing drops so the procedure is mostly painless. You may feel slight pressure or movement, but sharp pain is uncommon. Depending on the type of surgery, the operation may take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours, and most eye surgeries are done as day-care procedures, meaning patients go home the same day.

After the operation, mild discomfort, watering, redness, blurred vision, or irritation can be normal for a few days. Doctors usually prescribe eye drops, protective glasses, and precautions like avoiding rubbing the eye or heavy activity. Vision improvement may be immediate in some surgeries or gradual in others. Severe pain, sudden vision loss, heavy swelling, or discharge should be checked immediately by an Ophthalmology specialist.