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Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures performed today, with a 99% satisfaction rate. More than 3.5 million Americans have cataract surgery each year with excellent results. At Soni Vision Institute, both surgeons have performed hundreds of thousands of procedures with outstanding outcomes.

The procedure is painless. You will receive numbing eye drops and mild sedation to keep you comfortable and relaxed. You will be awake but will not feel or see the surgery happening. Most patients describe the experience as surprisingly easy.

The procedure itself typically takes 15–30 minutes. You should plan to be at the surgical center for approximately a few hours total, which includes pre-operative preparation, the procedure, and a brief recovery period. You go home the same day.

Traditional cataract surgery uses ultrasound (phacoemulsification) to break up and remove the clouded lens. Laser-assisted cataract surgery adds femtosecond laser technology to automate key steps — creating more precise incisions and lens fragmentation. Laser surgery is especially beneficial for patients with astigmatism or those choosing advanced technology lenses.

The surgical equipment has built-in safety features, and your surgeon is experienced with patient movement. Try to stay still, but don’t worry if you need to cough or shift position — just communicate with your surgeon.

If you have cataracts in both eyes, they are typically done separately, usually a few weeks apart. This allows the first eye to heal and gives us the opportunity to fine-tune the approach for the second eye.

Vision typically improves within 1–5 days. Most normal activities can be resumed after approximately one week. Your vision will continue to stabilize, and new glasses (if needed) are usually prescribed 2–4 weeks after surgery. Attend all follow-up appointments even if you feel fine.

Not on the day of surgery — you will need a driver. Your doctor will tell you when it’s safe to drive, usually within a few days once your vision has improved sufficiently.

For 1–2 weeks, avoid swimming, hot tubs, heavy lifting (over 15 pounds), strenuous exercise, rubbing your eye, dusty environments, and eye makeup. You can walk, watch TV, use your phone, shower (keeping water out of your eye), and ride in a car.

You will be prescribed anti-inflammatory drops (steroid and/or NSAID) and possibly antibiotic drops. We provide a drop calendar with clear instructions. Use your drops exactly as prescribed — missing doses can lead to complications. If you have trouble using your drops, call the office immediately.

It’s normal to experience blurry or fluctuating vision for the first few days, mild discomfort or scratchiness, redness, light sensitivity, some floaters, and mild tearing. Call us immediately if you experience sudden vision loss, severe pain, significant redness increase, discharge, new flashes of light, or a curtain-like shadow in your vision.

It depends on the intraocular lens (IOL) you choose. With a standard monofocal lens, most patients need glasses for reading or other activities. Advanced technology lenses can reduce glasses dependence significantly, but may not eliminate it completely. Your surgeon will help you choose the best option for your lifestyle.

The intraocular lens implant is permanent and designed to last your lifetime. It does not wear out, degrade, or need to be replaced.

No — once removed, a cataract cannot return. However, the capsule that holds your lens implant can become cloudy over time (called posterior capsule opacification). This is easily treated with a quick, painless laser procedure in the office — it is not a surgery.

Your surgeon will review all available options with you based on your eye measurements, lifestyle, visual goals, and budget. We offer monofocal, toric, multifocal, extended depth-of-focus, and Light Adjustable Lens options. There is no one-size-fits-all — the best lens is the one matched to how you use your eyes every day.