What Happens on the Day of Cataract Surgery: Arriving, Drops, and Going Home
By Pauline Driscoll | Medically reviewed by Mr Lewis Pereira, FRCOphth
Published March 20, 2026 · Last reviewed March 27, 2026 · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- Cataract surgery is a day case done one eye at a time under local anaesthetic, usually numbing drops, with you awake throughout.
- You arrive a few hours early for dilating and anaesthetic drops; the operation itself typically takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
- You are awake but feel no pain, see only light and movement, and the eye is gently held open so you cannot blink it shut.
- Most people go home the same day and need someone to take them, because you cannot drive and the eye is shielded.
- A clear shield protects the eye and you begin antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops; vision is blurry at first and clears over a day or two.
On the day of cataract surgery you arrive a few hours early for dilating and anaesthetic drops, then have a day-case operation under local anaesthetic that usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes while you are awake but feel no pain, after which you are driven home the same day with the eye shielded1. Only one eye is done at a time, you see light and movement rather than the surgery itself, and the eye is numbed so thoroughly that most people are surprised by how ordinary it feels2.
This is the plain hour-by-hour account of the day, checked by a consultant ophthalmic surgeon. For the wider picture of the procedure and what follows, see cataract surgery and cataract surgery recovery.
Arriving and the drops before surgery
You arrive at the hospital or clinic a few hours before the operation, because the eye needs time to be prepared with drops1. A nurse checks you in, confirms which eye is being done and which lens has been chosen, and marks the correct eye.
Then come the dilating drops, repeated over the waiting time to widen the pupil so the surgeon has a clear view of the lens, followed by anaesthetic drops to numb the eye. Some people also have a small injection of local anaesthetic around the eye. I remember my pupil feeling enormous and the lights going hazy long before I went in, which is exactly what the drops are meant to do.
The operation: awake, numbed, about 20 minutes
The operation itself typically takes about 15 to 30 minutes, often quoted as around 20 minutes, and is done under local anaesthetic with you awake1. You lie back, a sheet is placed over your face with an opening for the eye, and oxygen flows gently underneath so you do not feel closed in.
The eye is gently held open so you cannot blink it shut, and you are asked to look at a bright light. You see light, colours and vague movement rather than the operation, and you feel pressure and water rather than pain2. Through a tiny self-sealing incision the surgeon breaks up and removes the clouded lens and inserts the folded artificial lens, which unfolds into place. My biggest fear had been that I would flinch and ruin it; in reality the numbing was total and there was nothing to flinch at.
Recovery and going home the same day
Afterwards you rest in a recovery area for a short while, have a drink and a biscuit, and the team checks you before letting you leave3. Most people go home the same day within a few hours and need someone to take them, because you cannot drive and the eye is covered1.
You leave with a clear plastic shield taped over the eye and your antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops with a schedule1. Vision is blurry at first and clears over the next day or two, and the eye may feel gritty, watery and sensitive to light. I had arranged for my daughter to collect me both times, weeks apart, and on each occasion I was home, shielded eye and all, well before lunch.
Only one eye, and what to arrange
Cataract surgery is done one eye at a time on separate visits, commonly a few weeks apart, rather than both eyes on the same day4. So the day is about a single eye, and the second eye, if you need it, is a repeat of the same day later.
Practical things worth arranging in advance:
- A lift home: a responsible adult to collect you and ideally stay the first evening.
- Your drops ready: know which bottle is which and when the first dose is due.
- The shield to hand: for sleeping that first night.
- An easy evening: rest, no driving, and nothing that risks knocking the eye.
For what the days after look like, read the first days after cataract surgery, and if it is the nerves rather than the logistics troubling you, what cataract surgery feels like.
References
- Cataract surgery, NHS. ↩
- Cataract surgery, American Academy of Ophthalmology. ↩
- Understanding cataracts and cataract surgery, Royal College of Ophthalmologists. ↩
- Cataracts in adults: management (NG77), NICE. ↩
Common questions
How long does cataract surgery take on the day?
The operation itself typically takes about 15 to 30 minutes, often quoted as around 20 minutes. You should plan to be at the hospital or clinic for a few hours in total, because you arrive early for dilating and anaesthetic drops, then wait in recovery afterwards before being allowed home. Only one eye is done on the day; the second eye, if needed, is a separate visit a few weeks later.
Am I awake during cataract surgery?
Yes, you are normally awake throughout. The eye is numbed with local anaesthetic, usually drops and sometimes a small injection, so you feel no pain. You see light and vague movement and colours rather than the operation itself, and the eye is gently held open so you cannot blink it closed. Many people are surprised by how calm and undramatic it feels once it starts.
Does cataract surgery hurt on the day?
It should not be painful. The anaesthetic drops numb the eye so you feel pressure and water rather than pain. You may feel mild touch, the bright light of the microscope, and the rinsing fluid running across the eye. Afterwards the eye can feel gritty, watery and sensitive to light for a day or two, which is normal and settles with the prescribed drops.
Why do I need someone to take me home after cataract surgery?
You cannot drive yourself home because the eye has been operated on and dilated, your vision is blurry, and you will have a shield over the eye. Most people go home the same day within a few hours, but you need a responsible adult to collect you and ideally stay with you that first evening. Arrange the lift before the day, as the clinic will not let you leave alone.
Can I eat before cataract surgery?
For most cataract surgery under local anaesthetic you can eat and drink normally and take your usual medicines, but always follow the specific instructions your clinic gives you, as they vary. Some units ask you to eat a light meal beforehand so your blood sugar stays steady while you wait. If you take blood-thinning medication or have diabetes, the team will tell you exactly what to do.
What do I take home after cataract surgery?
You go home with a clear plastic shield taped over the eye to protect it, and your antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops with a schedule to follow. You will also have a follow-up appointment and contact details in case of problems. The shield is usually worn at night for about a week so you cannot rub the eye in your sleep.
Written by Pauline Driscoll. Medically reviewed by Mr Lewis Pereira, FRCOphth.
Our guides are written from personal experience and reviewed by a qualified clinician for accuracy. Read our editorial policy.
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