How long till you can drive after cataract surgery

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In most cases, a patient can start driving again the day after they have cataract surgery. Because cataract surgery requires mild sedation, you won't be able to drive right after your procedure. You’ll need a trusted friend or family member to drive you home. 

Will my vision be good enough to drive without glasses or contacts?

Routine cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful surgeries performed today. For those without other eye diseases, the results are impressive. 

Around 96% of people with otherwise healthy eyes achieve a visual acuity of at least 20/40 after cataract surgery. That’s good enough to drive legally without corrective lenses.

When can I drive after cataract surgery?

Most patients can start driving again the day after cataract surgery. But not all patients heal at the same rate, and some may have more complicated surgeries than others. 

For instance, some patients may get surgery for both glaucoma and cataracts at the same time. In these cases, recovery can take longer and patients may have to wait longer to drive. 

It’s important to ask someone to drive you to your surgery and follow-up exam, where your doctor can check if your vision is stable enough to drive safely. Some people only need a day to recover and others need up to a week. 

Note: Cataract surgery does not aim to address or improve macular degeneration, so patients with AMD may have different expectations for post-op visual acuity. 

SEE RELATED: Cataract surgery complications

What are some reasons to wait to drive again after cataract surgery?

Even when your doctor says it’s safe to drive again, you should wait until you are completely comfortable before getting back behind the wheel. For instance, you may also want to consider the following:

Are you experiencing any swelling after surgery? If you feel your vision is still not as clear as you’d like, you may want to wait a little longer to start driving.

Do you need glasses or contact lenses to see clearly for both distance and near vision? If so, you may want to wait until you have new glasses. An updated prescription will make it easier to read road signs, your GPS and the gauges on your dashboard.

Are you sensitive to bright light? Light sensitivity is common after cataract surgery, though it is usually temporary. Darker sunglasses may help you feel more comfortable behind the wheel.

Does the difference in visual clarity between your eyes affect your depth perception? Most people have cataract surgery on one eye at a time, with the procedures scheduled a few weeks apart. Between surgeries, you’ll be able to see more clearly with your treated eye than with your untreated eye. 

For some people, this leads to difficulty with depth perception and the ability to judge how close or far away objects are. If this bothers you, you may not want to drive until both eyes are treated.

Can I use my old glasses for driving after cataract surgery?

Once you’ve undergone both “rounds” of cataract surgery, your visual acuity will typically be very similar across both eyes. But between procedures, one eye may still need corrective lenses. 

Some people are tempted to “fix” their glasses by removing the lens that covers the newly treated eye. However, this may not be advisable for driving. Always ask your doctor before trying something new (especially since you may break your glasses in the process). 

If the difference in clarity between your eyes is significant, it’s better not to drive. If the issue is too bothersome to ignore, ask your doctor for a new glasses prescription to use until you have your second cataract surgery. 

SEE RELATED: Will I need glasses after cataract surgery?

Page published on Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Page updated on Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Medically reviewed on Monday, September 27, 2021

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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.

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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.

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