What not to do after cataract surgery
Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most frequently performed procedures, but the first few days call for a few simple precautions. The incision is tiny and the implant brand new : by avoiding certain actions, you protect your visual outcome and limit the risk of complications. Here, concretely, is what is best avoided after the procedure — and why.
Quick answer: the actions to avoid first and foremost
Key point. After cataract surgery, you should not rub or press on the operated eye, should not swim too soon (pool, sea, bath : around one month), should not skip your eye drops, and you should avoid violent physical exertion as well as lifting heavy loads during the first few weeks. Walking, reading and screens, on the other hand, remain possible very early on. Your ophthalmologist then tailors each instruction to your situation at the follow-up visits.
To fully understand the procedure itself, you can visit our dedicated page on cataract surgery, as well as our detailed guide to the recovery after cataract surgery.
Do not rub or press on the operated eye
Rubbing the eye is the action to avoid first and foremost after cataract surgery. The incision made to insert the implant is tiny and closes on its own, but mechanical pressure can reopen it or displace the artificial lens. The French Society of Ophthalmology (SFO) recommends protecting the operated eye during the first few days.
Why is this instruction so important ? Because the eye may itch or feel irritated during healing, which naturally prompts you to touch it. Resist this reflex, especially on waking. Many surgeons prescribe a protective shield to be worn at night to prevent involuntary rubbing during sleep.
- Do not rub, scratch or press on the eye, even lightly.
- Wear the eye shield at night if it has been prescribed to you.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before instilling the eye drops.
Avoid water, dust and make-up in the first few days
Non-sterile water and particles should be kept away from the operated eye during the early postoperative period. The SFO highlights the infection risk linked to contact between a fresh incision and a contaminated environment. This is why swimming pool, sea, bath, gardening and eye make-up are not advised until healing is well underway.
Showering, hair and swimming
You can shower soon after, but avoid letting water and shampoo run directly into the eye. Tilt your head back to wash your hair. The swimming pool, the sea and hot baths (steam room, jacuzzi) require a longer wait, generally around one month : the anti-inflammatory eye drops used in the postoperative period temporarily lower the eye’s defences, which increases the risk of infection on contact with water. For precise timelines, read our article on sport, swimming and the sea after cataract surgery.
Dust, gardening and make-up
Gardening, DIY and dusty environments expose the eye to flying particles. Postpone these activities for a few days. On the beauty side, mascara, eyeliner and eye cream can introduce bacteria near the incision. Wait for your ophthalmologist’s go-ahead before reapplying make-up around the eyes.
Limit intense physical exertion and lifting heavy loads
Violent exertion and lifting heavy loads raise the pressure inside the eye and should be avoided after surgery. The SFO advises a gradual return to physical activity. Lifting a very heavy object, straining or playing a contact sport too soon can stress the still-fragile incision and hinder healing.
Walking and gentle activities are generally possible early on. Intense running, weight training, water sports and contact sports, however, require a longer wait. Resume in stages, without pain or discomfort. Our guide on sport after cataract surgery details the timelines for each activity.
Do not neglect your eye drops or your follow-up appointments
Skipping your eye drops is a common mistake that can compromise healing. The postoperative treatment most often combines an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory to prevent infection and calm inflammation. The HAS stresses the importance of adhering to the treatment and of medical follow-up after eye surgery.
Stick to the instillation schedule and the prescribed duration, even if the eye seems to be doing well. Also keep all your follow-up appointments : they make it possible to check that everything is progressing normally. Some signs, on the contrary, should prompt you to seek care without delay.
- Intense pain that does not ease with the usual painkillers.
- A sudden drop in vision or an abrupt veil.
- Significant redness, discharge or marked sensitivity to light.
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist or an ophthalmic emergency service promptly. Better one call too many than a complication detected too late. In the days following the procedure, a shower of dark spots, a dark veil or flashes of light may, more rarely, reveal a retinal detachment : from the day after the procedure and during the following weeks, these signs call for an emergency consultation. For resuming driving, see our article on when to drive again after cataract surgery.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can you bend forward after cataract surgery ?
Bending over briefly is generally not forbidden, but it is best to avoid staying head-down for long periods in the first few days, as this raises the pressure in the eye. To pick up an object, bend your knees instead. Ask your ophthalmologist for the instructions suited to your case.
When can you go back to sport ?
Walking resumes very early, while intense, water or contact sports require a longer wait. The return is done in stages, without pain. Timelines vary depending on the activity and your healing. Our dedicated article on sport and swimming after surgery sets out these guideposts.
Can you look at a screen or television ?
Yes, watching television, reading or using a screen poses no danger to the operated eye. These activities do not stress the incision. Vision may remain blurry or fluctuating in the first few days, while the eye adapts to the implant. Take breaks if you feel visual fatigue.
How long do the precautions last ?
The strictest precautions mainly concern the first few days, then the first few weeks for sport and swimming. Complete healing takes a little longer. Your ophthalmologist sets the exact timelines at the follow-up visits, depending on your eye and the progress observed.
Can you cook after cataract surgery ?
Yes, you can cook as soon as you get home. Simply be careful of splashes towards the eye — hot oil, steam, spatters — and avoid rubbing your eye with unwashed hands, especially before instilling your drops. There is no particular ban beyond this common sense during the first days of healing.
Scientific sources
- Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS). Adult cataract surgery : recommendations and care pathway. has-sante.fr.
- Société Française d’Ophtalmologie (SFO). Reference framework and recommendations on cataract surgery. sfo.asso.fr.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Cataract in the Adult Eye — Preferred Practice Pattern. aao.org.
Further reading
- When can you drive after cataract surgery ?
- Sport, swimming and the sea after cataract surgery
- Sun and holidays after cataract surgery
- Recovery after cataract surgery
Cataract follow-up at the Cachan office (94) and in Paris 13.
Unsure about something you can do after your surgery?
Every recovery is different, and some situations deserve personalised advice. If you are unsure about an activity, a sport or a timeline, the safest thing is to discuss it at your follow-up consultation. To plan your care or ask your questions, book an appointment with Dr Moïse Tourabaly in Cachan or in Paris 13.
This article is informative and educational in purpose. It does not replace a medical consultation. Timelines and precautions are tailored on a case-by-case basis by your ophthalmologist. Sources : recommendations from the HAS and the French Society of Ophthalmology (SFO).
Written and reviewed by Dr Moïse Tourabaly, ophthalmic refractive surgeon — former chief resident (Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital).
Last updated: July 6, 2026
