Is cataract surgery painful? What it's really like

It is the first thing almost everyone asks, and it is a fair question. The eye is numbed with drops. Most people feel pressure rather than pain.

Here is what happens. Before surgery begins, the eye is numbed with anaesthetic drops, and in most cases no injection is needed. You stay awake throughout.

What you will and won’t feel

You should not feel cutting. You will be aware of a soft light, and perhaps a sensation of cool water or mild pressure around the eye. If anything is uncomfortable, tell the surgeon, and more anaesthetic can be given. The surgery itself usually takes about ten to fifteen minutes for a straightforward cataract.

Afterwards, once the numbness wears off, the eye can feel a little gritty or watery, as though there is sand in it, for a day or so. That usually settles. You are given drops and written instructions, and a number to call with any concern.

Why people fear it more than they need to

Most of the fear comes from the idea of being awake while something is done to the eye. That is understandable. But being awake is not the same as being in pain. The eye is numbed, and your only job is to lie still and look towards the light.

The part that matters most

A comfortable surgery is not the goal in itself. Clear, safe vision is. That depends on careful measurement beforehand and follow-up care afterwards. Like any operation, cataract surgery carries risks, which your surgeon will explain before you consent.

If fear of pain is the reason you have been putting off cataract surgery, it is worth discussing that fear with your eye doctor.