Driving After Cataract Surgery: What You Can Do and When

I see a large number of patients with cataracts, many of whom are drivers and therefore are interested in asking ‘when can I drive after cataract surgery’. Firstly, many people actually want to have their cataract surgery because they are having problems such as glare, depth perception issues and light sensitivity. I often have patients concerned about how safe they feel they are on the road, especially at night when the light is dim and the headlights are dazzling. There have also been some high profile cases in the media about road traffic accidents and poor eyesight. Cataract surgery is a great opportunity to improve vision and therefore improve confidence with driving as well as ensuring vision meets the DVLA standards. The vast majority of patients undergoing cataract surgery are very happy with their visual outcomes. It is however important to realise that just like any surgical procedure, there is a healing time, and consideration must be given to driving after cataract surgery.

When Can You Drive After Cataract Surgery?

There is not a simple answer to this question. During the pre-operative clinic assessment, I discuss DVLA driving standards and carefully explain if you can currently drive and when you might expect to return to driving after cataract surgery. There are some patients who unfortunately may not regain the ability to drive even after cataract surgery, particularly if there are co-existing eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. 

For some patients, with good vision before cataract surgery, it may be possible to regain vision a couple of days after cataract surgery. Many of my patients have a rapid recovery from cataract surgery with minimal post-operative symptoms like light sensitivity, glare or blur. For others, I might advise that they cannot drive until I have reviewed their eyes and vision in my post-operative clinic to determine whether they have achieved a visual outcome that meets DVLA standards. It is crucial that patients abide by the advice I provide regarding driving. The DVLA is quite clear that you could be prosecuted if you drive without meeting the standards of vision for driving. Driving with poor vision is very dangerous for both you and others on the road. 

Everybody heals differently after surgery, depending on factors such as surgical complexity, duration of surgery, ethnicity and coexisting medical conditions. As well as my advice above in terms of the legal rules on returning to driving, there is a personal comfort level as well, which should be considered.

Furthermore, some patients need enhanced visual standards for driving buses and lorries. I can cover this with patients during a consultation so that they are fully informed about what to expect and when they might be able to return to driving. 

How the Healing Process Affects Driving Readiness

During the recovery phase, the eye normally has some inflammation which is a natural and normal process. This can cause sensitivity to light and glare which can affect driving after cataract surgery. Different patients heal differently and therefore the degree of light sensitivity can vary significantly between patients. This can therefore affect confidence when considering driving after cataract surgery. Some of the modern car headlights can be particularly bright, especially when on high-beam, and this can be problematic when the eye is recovering after cataract surgery. 

Another important factor is the adjustment to the new intra-ocular lens implant inside the eye. Often, the refractive status of the eye (essentially the glasses prescription) changes after cataract surgery because the new implant is designed to build the prescription internally into the eye. This can take some time to adjust to, and when considering that the eyes work together for depth perception, confidence and driving after cataract surgery can be affected. 

Some patients undergo both eye cataract surgery within a short space of time (e.g. a couple of weeks) whereas others can have a large amount of time between the procedures in the two eyes. Depending on the prescription required, sometimes there can be quite significant imbalances between the eyes. This is known as anisometropia and it can cause problems such as depth perception difficulties and headaches. Clearly this can be an issue when driving after cataract surgery and is something I am very careful to explain when seeing patients considering surgery.

Safety Guidelines Before Returning to the Road

There are a few good rules to follow when thinking about returning to driving. Firstly, it is important to follow my advice detailed above about whether you have to formally wait for a re-examination to determine whether you meet DVLA standards. In those who I suggest a few days might be acceptable, it is really important that you feel comfortable with your vision before restarting driving. You must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away, which is approximately the length of 5 parked cars. I also recommend that you should start with short distances on roads that are well known to you. This familiarity will help you adjust to your new vision after cataract surgery. Sunglasses can also be helpful to reduce glare and actually many patients like to persist with sunglasses long-term for their driving.

Rebuilding Driving Confidence After Surgery

A major part of driving is confidence. It is therefore a good idea to stick to local familiar roads when returning to driving after cataract surgery. In contrast, unfamiliar motorways or obscure country roads can be difficult and are best avoided in the first few days after cataract surgery. Once the brain gets used to the new vision, the vast majority of patients feel they can return to full driving activities, and indeed report that they feel far more confident with their driving than before surgery due to the overall improvement in visual clarity.

When to Seek Advice or Delay Driving

Although I will have given advice about returning to driving, sometimes the recovery from cataract surgery can be different to what might have been expected. For example, the vision might be blurred for a few more days that expected or there may be persisting light sensitivity, pain or even double vision. In these scenarios, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid driving until I have reviewed you in my clinic. All patients see me between 1 and 2 weeks following cataract surgery for review and this is an excellent opportunity to ask about driving suitability and in particular any concerns which you may have. Safety on the road must always be the priority.

Maintaining Long-Term Visual Comfort for Driving

Once you have recommenced driving after cataract surgery, it is important to realise that in the future things can change with your vision. For example, the prescription might change, or you can develop other eye conditions that might affect your vision and sometimes your ability to meet the DVLA vision standards.

Firstly, approximately 4-6 weeks after cataract surgery, it is a good idea to visit your optician and see whether a new pair of glasses would be helpful. Although the vision is often greatly improved after cataract surgery, sometimes a mild prescription pair of spectacles can further sharpen the distance vision that might be helpful for a long drive. 

In addition, it is crucial to continue seeing your optician on a yearly basis after cataract surgery for a general check-up and updated prescription.

Key Takeaways for Patients

Overall, cataract surgery is a great way of improving your vision. Most patients resume driving safely within a week of their cataract surgery. It is however crucial to understand the DVLA standards and this is something you should talk to your surgeon about. It is undoubtedly true that better vision makes you safer on the road, giving you more confidence to drive and ultimately increasing your independence.