Many patients want to know when it is safe to get back behind the wheel after cataract surgery. The answer depends on how your eye heals, whether you had one or both eyes treated, and whether your vision meets the legal and practical requirements for driving. This article explains typical timelines, what surgeons look for at postoperative checks, the differences between daytime and night driving, and sensible precautions for your first journeys.
In many uncomplicated cases people are able to drive again just a few days after cataract surgery, provided their vision is good enough and the surgeon has authorised a return to driving. The crucial steps are attending the postoperative check, confirming that your visual acuity and comfort are sufficient, and ensuring you feel safe to drive. If your surgeon advises against driving, you must follow that advice.
Cataract surgery usually produces a rapid improvement in central vision, but early healing can bring fluctuating clarity, glare, halos around lights and temporary issues with depth perception. These transient effects can make driving, particularly at night or in poor weather, more challenging. The postoperative check allows your clinician to assess wound integrity, inflammation, eye pressure and basic visual acuity, and to advise whether it is safe for you to resume driving.
Most clinics arrange a first review within 24 to 48 hours of the operation. During this visit the surgeon or optometrist will check the surgical wound, measure intraocular pressure, look for signs of infection or inflammation, and test how well you can see. If the eye looks healthy and your corrected vision meets the legal standard for driving in your country, the clinician will often clear you to drive. If there are concerns, they will advise you to wait and will schedule further checks.
If only one eye has been operated on, you may need to wait longer before driving than if both eyes are treated. A single operated eye can create a temporary imbalance between your two eyes in terms of clarity and focusing, which can affect depth perception and comfort. Many clinicians recommend assessing how well your binocularity functions after the first eye is done, and delaying independent driving until you feel confident or until the second eye is treated and both eyes are balanced.
Daylight driving is considerably less demanding than driving at night. Daytime conditions generally reveal fewer problems with glare and halos, and most people resume daytime driving sooner. Night driving is more sensitive to post-surgical visual phenomena: bright headlights may produce more glare, and halos can make judging distances more difficult. If you experience significant glare or halos, it is sensible to avoid night driving until these symptoms settle.
Choose short, familiar routes for your first outings and drive during daylight and good weather. Avoid rush-hour traffic and complex junctions until you feel fully comfortable. Make sure you have any prescribed eye drops with you and that you are not wearing anything that could impair vision, such as inappropriate sunglasses. If you feel unsure at any point, pull over in a safe place and stop driving. Having a companion on hand for the first trip can provide support and reassurance.
Standard postoperative eye drops do not usually affect the ability to drive. However, if you were given oral sedation or prescribed any medication that causes drowsiness, you must not drive until you are fully alert and the effects have worn off. Likewise, severe fatigue or poor sleep after surgery can impair reaction times, so make sure you are well rested before you attempt to drive.
If you experience any sudden deterioration in vision, new double vision, intense glare, a shower of floaters, or pain while driving, stop in a safe place and seek urgent advice. Contact your surgical clinic or attend the nearest emergency eye service. Do not continue driving if your vision is unreliable; early assessment can identify complications that require prompt treatment.
If you drive for a living or hold a licence with higher visual standards, such as a commercial or vocational licence, you should check specific regulatory requirements before returning to duty. Some licences require formal documentation or a medical assessment after eye surgery. Notify your employer and relevant licensing authority if necessary, and obtain written confirmation from your eye specialist where required.
Full visual stabilisation after cataract surgery can take several weeks to a few months in some cases, depending on factors such as the type of intraocular lens used and the presence of other eye conditions. Many people are able to drive safely well before full stabilisation, but if you notice persistent problems such as fluctuating vision, ongoing glare, or discomfort, discuss these with your surgeon before resuming regular or demanding driving routines.
Returning to driving after cataract surgery is a step-by-step decision based on clinical checks, legal visual standards and your own confidence behind the wheel. Attend your postoperative reviews, follow your surgeon’s advice, start with short daytime journeys on familiar roads and avoid night driving until any visual disturbances settle. If in doubt, prioritise safety: arrange alternative transport for a little longer and consult your eye care team before you take to the road.