How long should you wait to drive after cataract surgery

January 31, 2017 — by Thomas Byrd, MD
Tags: Cataract Surgery Eye Care

In discussing the issue of driving after cataract surgery during consultations at his Detroit, MI eye care center, Dr. Thomas Byrd is able to provide patients with generally good news. In most cases, patients are able to resume driving within a few days, and often the very next day, after undergoing cataract surgery. However, he is careful to add that this is not true of all patients and that there are several factors that could influence how soon an individual patient is able to resume driving.

What will your recovery from cataract surgery be like? To find out, we encourage you to schedule your initial cataract surgery consultation with Dr. Thomas Byrd at Byrd Eye Clinic today.

When Can You Drive after Cataract Surgery?

First, it is important to note that no patient is allowed to drive himself or herself home on the day of his or her surgical appointment. Even if you were to achieve excellent visual acuity that quickly after the removal of your cataract-affected natural lenses and subsequent placement of your artificial intraocular lenses, or IOLs, you would still be feeling the effects of your anesthesia. Therefore, you will need to arrange to have someone drive you to and from your cataract surgery appointment.

After 24 hours have passed, you will technically be allowed to drive if:

• You can see well enough to operate a vehicle according to the laws of the state of Michigan, and
• You feel comfortable enough with your vision to drive.

While you may be eager to resume driving, you will want to make a decision that takes into account both your safety and the safety of others. Obviously, if you cannot see well enough to drive, then you must wait until your visual acuity improves to resume driving. However, even if your vision is adequate for driving, you will also want to consider whether:

• Any swelling you are experienced from cataract surgery has diminished to the point that it will not interfere with your ability to see clearly. If swelling does interfere with the clarity of your vision, wait for it to subside before you resume driving.
• You will require corrective lenses to augment your IOL prescription in order to achieve your best possible vision. Even premium IOLs do not guarantee that you will no longer require glasses or contact lenses.
• Increased sensitivity to light might interfere with your ability to drive comfortably. Increased light sensitivity is a common, albeit temporary, side effect of cataract surgery.

Learn More about Driving after Cataract Surgery

To learn more about driving after cataract surgery, or to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Thomas Byrd, please contact Byrd Eye Clinic today.

To be able to drive after cataract surgery, or indeed, at all, you must meet the DVLA’s visual standards for driving(1). This means that you must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away. You also need to be able to read the 6/12 of an eye test chart with both eyes open*. You can arrange this test with your optician.

In general, it’s normal that you’ll be able to do both of these things again within 24 hours of having cataract surgery.

However, some patients will need to have new prescription glasses or contact lenses to be able to drive after cataract surgery. In most cases, it’s advisable that you wait four weeks, so your eye is fully recovered, before having an eye test to get new glasses.

If you’re having cataract surgery on both your eyes and are between operations, dependent on the severity of the remaining cataract, you may be advised that it’s safe for you to drive, but ensure you seek advice from your optician before doing so.

References

1. GOV UK: Driving eyesight rules

After cataract surgery, it’s wise not to rush things

If you typically drive a car to get around, it’s only natural that you might be keen to know when you can safely start driving again after having conventional (manual) or laser cataract surgery.

Most people who have cataracts will need to have them removed from both eyes. However, your surgeon will most likely perform the surgery on different occasions, generally anywhere from 1 day to about 2 weeks apart.

This means your vision will be very different in one eye compared to the other for some time. In particular, depth perception can be markedly different, which can be challenging.

Therefore, if you’re having cataract surgery the best advice is to wait until both eyes have been operated on before attempting to drive. The good news is that the recovery period is quite short, usually just a day or two. Some people’s eyes can be slightly swollen for a short time after the procedure – if this is the case, you should wait for a full recovery before hitting the road.

For safety’s sake, it’s wise to carefully consider if your vision has stabilised before driving again. If it hasn’t fully recovered, an error of judgement could lead to significant consequences.

On the day of surgery

You won’t be allowed to drive immediately after surgery. The main reason for this is that you will probably have been sedated and will be in no condition to drive yourself home.

Always plan ahead and have a friend or relative to serve as a chauffeur on the day of laser cataract surgery. Also, don’t count on a taxi or hire service to take you home, because you will need someone to stay with you for a few hours during the recovery period.

Recovery time

Most cataract patients notice that within 24 hours following cataract surgery, any effects they may have experienced from the administration of sedation have disappeared. But if you feel sleepy, are experiencing any sensitivity to light, or any other side-effects that might inhibit your ability to control your vehicle and drive safely, it’s better to be cautious and wait until your vision is fully recovered.

Light sensitivity and depth perception problems are two common issues that may delay your return to driving, so pay attention to them and ensure they aren’t affecting your vision. Most of the time, these issues are temporary and recovery will be quite quick.

Check your glasses prescription

Before you resume driving after cataract surgery, it’s a good idea to check to see if your current prescription glasses still provide you with optimal vision. Sometimes, a patient’s vision is restored to such a degree that they may longer need to wear glasses, except perhaps for reading small print or in poor light.

For some patients, a temporary solution (between operations) may be to remove the lens over the eye that was operated on, still enabling your other eye to view the world through a corrective lens. This is less than ideal, especially for driving. If you do need to occasionally wear glasses for specific activities after surgery, you should make sure your prescription is updated to suit your new, replacement lens.

A final word on driving after cataract surgery

Cataracts tend to cloud vision in such a gradual manner that many people suffer them without even realising their vision has begun to worsen. Drivers will often first notice they have a problem when they are driving at night and are temporarily blinded by bright lights and often see halos, especially when it’s raining.

After surgery, most people are able to see the road and their fellow motorists much more clearly, making them safer drivers. Colours will appear brighter, road signs will look sharper and vision will be enhanced in all kinds of weather conditions. Night driving will be particularly improved and the stress of being blinded by headlights will become a thing of the past.

Just remember to be patient and wait until your eyes are fully recovered before you resume driving. After all, it’s surely worth waiting for a short time knowing you have a lifetime of improved vision to look forward to.

Vision Eye Institute offers consultations with our expert cataract surgeons to determine whether you need cataract surgery. Our surgeons can perform the different types of cataract surgery at our locations in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

Ask a questionBook a consultation

Enjoyed this article?

The information on this page is general in nature. All medical and surgical procedures have potential benefits and risks. Consult your ophthalmologist for specific medical advice.

How long after cataract surgery can you drive?

Do and don'ts after cataract surgery?

How long do you wear eye shield at night after cataract surgery?

Can I drive 4 days after cataract surgery?