If you don't understand your eye care professional's responses, ask questions until you do understand.
Take notes or get a friend or family member to take notes for you. Or, bring a tape recorder to help you remember the discussion.

Ask your eye care professional to write down his or her instructions to you.

Ask your eye care professional for printed material about your condition.

If you still have trouble understanding your eye care professional's answers, ask where you can go for more information.

About my eye disease or disorder…

What is my diagnosis?

What caused my condition?
Can my condition be treated?
How will this condition affect my vision now and in the future?
Should I watch for any particular symptoms and notify you if they occur?
Should I make any lifestyle changes?

About my treatment…

Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block ultraviolet sunlight may help to delay cataracts. If you smoke, stop. Researchers also believe good nutrition can help reduce the risk of age-related cataract. They recommend eating green leafy vegetables, fruit and other foods with antioxidants.

If you have lost some sight from cataract or cataract surgery, ask your eye care professional about low vision services and devices that may help you make the most of your remaining vision. Ask for a referral to a specialist in low vision. Many community organizations and agencies offer information about low vision counseling, training and other special services for people with visual impairments. A nearby school of medicine or optometry may provide low vision services.

You can quickly return to many everyday activities, but your vision may be blurry. The healing eye needs time to adjust so that it can focus properly with the other eye, especially if the other eye has a cataract. Ask your doctor when you can resume driving.

If you received an IOL, you may notice that colors are very bright. The IOL is clear, unlike your natural lens that may have had a yellowish/brownish tint. Within a few months after receiving an IOL, you will become used to improved color vision. Also when your eye heals, you may need new glasses or contact lenses.

Problems after surgery are rare, but they can occur. These problems can include
infection, bleeding, inflammation (pain, redness, swelling), loss of vision,
double vision and high or low eye pressure. With prompt medical attention, these
problems usually can be treated successfully.

Sometimes the eye tissue that encloses the IOL becomes cloudy and may blur your vision. This condition is called an after-cataract. An after-cataract can develop months or years after cataract surgery.

Itching and mild discomfort are normal after cataract surgery. Some fluid discharge is also common. Your eye may be sensitive to light and touch. If you have discomfort, your doctor can suggest treatment. After one or two days, moderate discomfort should disappear.

At the hospital or eye clinic, drops will be put into your eye to dilate the pupil. The area around your eye will be washed and cleansed.

The operation usually lasts less than one hour and is almost painless. Many people
choose to stay awake during surgery. Others may need to be put to sleep for a
short time. If you are awake, you will have an anesthetic to numb the nerves in
and around your eye.

A week or two before surgery, your doctor will do some tests. These tests may include measuring the curve of the cornea and the size and shape of your eye. This information helps your doctor choose the right type of IOL.

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything 12 hours before your surgery.

Many people who need cataract surgery also have other eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma. If you have other eye conditions in addition to cataracts, talk with your doctor. Learn about the risks, benefits, alternatives and expected results of cataract surgery.