How long do you need to take off work for a surgical cataract procedure?

Patients are usually able to go home within an hour of routine cataract surgery and can return to work the next day. If the surgery is not routine or complications arise, the patient may need an extra day or up to a week before returning to work.

Routine cataract surgery is normally done in an outpatient surgical center. The procedure typically takes only about 10 minutes. The patient goes home an hour or two later, but should not return to work on the day of surgery. Some patients need stitches or may have the surgery done under general anesthesia in a hospital. If they need to take extra time off work, the doctor tells them when it is okay to return.