How long does cataract surgery take?

The cataract removal procedure itself typically takes 10 to 15 minutes per eye. However, you should plan to spend approximately 2 to 2.5 hours at the surgical facility on the day of surgery, including pre-operative preparation, the procedure, and a brief recovery period. Surgery is performed on one eye at a time, with the second eye done 2 to 4 weeks later.

Is cataract surgery painful?

Cataract surgery is performed under topical anesthesia — numbing drops applied to the eye — so the procedure itself is not painful. At Affiliated Eye Surgeons, we do not use injections around the eye. Most patients feel mild pressure during the procedure but report very little discomfort. After surgery, some grittiness, mild soreness, and light sensitivity are normal for the first few days and are managed with prescribed eye drops and over-the-counter pain relief if needed.

Will I need glasses after cataract surgery?

That depends on which intraocular lens (IOL) you choose. With a standard monofocal lens, most patients can see clearly at distance without glasses but will need reading glasses for near tasks. Premium multifocal and extended depth-of-focus lenses are designed to provide a broader range of clear vision, significantly reducing or eliminating glasses dependence for most patients. Toric lenses correct astigmatism at the same time as cataract removal. Your surgeon will discuss which option is most appropriate for your eyes and lifestyle.

How quickly will I see after cataract surgery?

Most patients notice a significant improvement in vision within 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Vision may be slightly blurry or hazy at first as the eye adjusts to the new lens. Full visual stabilization typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Colors often appear noticeably brighter and more vivid after surgery as light can now pass through a clear lens rather than a cloudy one.

Does Medicare cover cataract surgery?

Medicare Part B covers the cost of standard cataract surgery, including a basic monofocal intraocular lens implant, when the procedure is medically necessary. If you choose a premium IOL — such as a multifocal, extended depth-of-focus, or toric lens — you are responsible for the additional cost of the premium lens upgrade, as Medicare does not cover premium lens upgrades. The standard surgical fee remains covered. Our team can walk you through the expected costs at your pre-operative consultation.

What is LenSx laser cataract surgery?

LenSx is a femtosecond laser system that replaces several manual steps in cataract surgery with computer-guided precision. The laser creates the initial incisions in the cornea and the circular opening in the lens capsule, and pre-softens the cataract — all with greater accuracy than manual techniques. This reduces the ultrasound energy needed during removal, which can benefit recovery. Affiliated Eye Surgeons uses the LenSx system as part of our standard advanced cataract surgery approach.

When is it time to have cataract surgery?

There is no single threshold — the decision is based on how much the cataract is affecting your daily life and functional vision. Most patients consider surgery when cataracts begin to interfere with activities like driving (especially at night), reading, watching television, or recognizing faces — even with glasses. If your vision no longer meets the legal standard for driving, surgery is typically recommended. Your ophthalmologist can help you weigh the degree of visual impairment against the minimal risks of a modern cataract procedure.

Cataract Surgery: What to Expect Before, During & After

How long does cataract surgery take?
The cataract removal procedure itself typically takes 10 to 15 minutes per eye. However, you should plan to spend approximately 2 to 2.5 hours at the surgical facility on the day of surgery, including pre-operative preparation, the procedure, and a brief recovery period. Surgery is performed on one eye at a time, with the second eye done 2 to 4 weeks later.
Is cataract surgery painful?
Cataract surgery is performed under topical anesthesia — numbing drops applied to the eye — so the procedure itself is not painful. At Affiliated Eye Surgeons, we do not use injections around the eye. Most patients feel mild pressure during the procedure but report very little discomfort. After surgery, some grittiness, mild soreness, and light sensitivity are normal for the first few days and are managed with prescribed eye drops and over-the-counter pain relief if needed.
Will I need glasses after cataract surgery?
That depends on which intraocular lens (IOL) you choose. With a standard monofocal lens, most patients can see clearly at distance without glasses but will need reading glasses for near tasks. Premium multifocal and extended depth-of-focus lenses are designed to provide a broader range of clear vision, significantly reducing or eliminating glasses dependence for most patients. Toric lenses correct astigmatism at the same time as cataract removal. Your surgeon will discuss which option is most appropriate for your eyes and lifestyle.
How quickly will I see after cataract surgery?
Most patients notice a significant improvement in vision within 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Vision may be slightly blurry or hazy at first as the eye adjusts to the new lens. Full visual stabilization typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Colors often appear noticeably brighter and more vivid after surgery as light can now pass through a clear lens rather than a cloudy one.
Does Medicare cover cataract surgery?
Medicare Part B covers the cost of standard cataract surgery, including a basic monofocal intraocular lens implant, when the procedure is medically necessary. If you choose a premium IOL — such as a multifocal, extended depth-of-focus, or toric lens — you are responsible for the additional cost of the premium lens upgrade, as Medicare does not cover premium lens upgrades. The standard surgical fee remains covered. Our team can walk you through the expected costs at your pre-operative consultation.
What is LenSx laser cataract surgery?
LenSx is a femtosecond laser system that replaces several manual steps in cataract surgery with computer-guided precision. The laser creates the initial incisions in the cornea and the circular opening in the lens capsule, and pre-softens the cataract — all with greater accuracy than manual techniques. This reduces the ultrasound energy needed during removal, which can benefit recovery. Affiliated Eye Surgeons uses the LenSx system as part of our standard advanced cataract surgery approach.
When is it time to have cataract surgery?
There is no single threshold — the decision is based on how much the cataract is affecting your daily life and functional vision. Most patients consider surgery when cataracts begin to interfere with activities like driving (especially at night), reading, watching television, or recognizing faces — even with glasses. If your vision no longer meets the legal standard for driving, surgery is typically recommended. Your ophthalmologist can help you weigh the degree of visual impairment against the minimal risks of a modern cataract procedure.

If your eye doctor has told you it's time to consider cataract surgery, you're probably full of questions — and that's completely normal. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed elective surgical procedure in the United States, with an exceptional safety record, but for most patients it's their first experience with any kind of eye surgery.

Understanding exactly what happens — before your procedure, on the day of surgery, and during recovery — removes a great deal of the anxiety that naturally comes with the unknown. This guide walks you through the entire experience at Affiliated Eye Surgeons, from your pre-operative consultation to your follow-up visits and beyond.

Ready to discuss cataract surgery? Affiliated Eye Surgeons performs advanced LenSx laser cataract surgery at three Northern NJ locations. Call Morristown at (973) 984-5005 or request a consultation online.

What Is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens — the clear, flexible structure that sits just behind the iris and focuses light onto the retina. The lens is made primarily of water and protein; over time, those proteins can clump together and cloud sections of the lens, causing vision to become blurry, hazy, or less colorful.

Most cataracts are age-related and develop slowly over decades. By age 65, more than half of Americans have a cataract in at least one eye. Less commonly, cataracts can develop from eye injury, long-term steroid use, or certain medical conditions including diabetes.

Cataracts cannot be reversed with medication, glasses, or eye drops. Once a cataract begins to meaningfully interfere with daily activities — driving, reading, watching television, recognizing faces — surgery is the only effective treatment.

Before Surgery: The Pre-Operative Process

Your Cataract Evaluation

Before scheduling surgery, you'll have a comprehensive pre-operative examination. This visit is more detailed than a standard eye exam and includes several specialized measurements:

Visual acuity testing — to assess how your vision is currently affected by the cataract
Slit-lamp examination — a detailed look at the cataract's density and location within the lens
Dilated fundus exam — to evaluate the health of your retina and optic nerve
Corneal topography — to map the shape of your cornea, which is critical for toric IOL selection and LenSx laser planning
Optical biometry (IOL Master) — precise measurements of your eye's length, corneal curvature, and anterior chamber depth to calculate the correct power of your implant lens (IOL)

These measurements take time to perform carefully — budget approximately 2 hours for your pre-operative visit.

Choosing Your Intraocular Lens (IOL)

One of the most important decisions you'll make before surgery is which intraocular lens implant is right for you. The IOL replaces your natural lens and permanently determines how your eye focuses light after surgery. There are several categories:

Monofocal IOL — the standard lens, set to focus at one distance (usually distance). Most patients will still need reading glasses after surgery with this option. Covered by Medicare and most insurance plans.
Toric IOL — a monofocal lens that also corrects astigmatism. Good for patients with significant corneal astigmatism who want clear distance vision without glasses.
Multifocal IOL (PanOptix) — provides clear vision at multiple distances (near, intermediate, and distance), significantly reducing or eliminating the need for glasses at any distance for most patients.
Extended Depth of Focus IOL (Symfony) — provides a continuous range of clear vision from distance to intermediate, with reduced nighttime halos compared to multifocal designs. Often paired with a near-vision lens in the other eye.

Premium IOLs (toric, multifocal, extended depth of focus) involve an additional out-of-pocket cost beyond what insurance covers. Dr. Jalaj will discuss the options in detail during your consultation and help you choose the lens that best fits your lifestyle and visual goals.

Preparing for Surgery Day

In the days leading up to your surgery, you'll receive specific pre-operative instructions. Generally, these include:

Beginning antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops several days before surgery — these are critical for preventing infection and reducing post-operative inflammation
Arranging for a driver — you cannot drive on the day of surgery, and will need someone to take you home
Fasting instructions — typically nothing to eat after midnight before a morning procedure
Medication review — let us know all medications you take; certain blood thinners may need to be temporarily adjusted in consultation with your prescribing physician
Comfortable clothing — wear something easy to remove over your head; avoid eye makeup or facial creams on the day of surgery

The Day of Surgery

Arrival and Pre-Op

You'll arrive at the surgical facility approximately one hour before your procedure. During this time, the nursing team will:

Confirm your identity and the correct eye being operated on
Place dilating drops and antibiotic drops in your eye
Apply topical anesthetic drops — these numb the surface of the eye so the procedure is comfortable
Provide a mild oral sedative if requested — most patients remain comfortably awake during the procedure

The Procedure Itself

Cataract surgery at Affiliated Eye Surgeons is performed using the LenSx femtosecond laser system — the same type of precision laser technology used in LASIK surgery, applied to cataract removal.

Here is what happens, step by step:

The LenSx laser creates precise, computer-guided incisions in the cornea — no blade required. It also softens and fragments the cataract, reducing the ultrasound energy needed for removal.
A technique called phacoemulsification uses gentle ultrasound to break up and aspirate the cloudy lens material through a tiny incision — typically less than 3mm.
The IOL is folded and inserted through the same small incision, then unfolds into position inside the natural lens capsule.
The incision is self-sealing in most cases — no stitches required.

The entire procedure takes approximately 10–15 minutes. You will see light and movement during the surgery but will not see the surgical instruments. Most patients report the experience as comfortable and surprisingly brief.

Immediately After Surgery

After the procedure, you'll rest briefly in the recovery area while the nursing team monitors you. You'll be given a protective shield to wear over the eye. Most patients notice improved vision within hours — though it may appear foggy or hazy at first as the eye adjusts to the new lens.

Your driver will take you home. Plan to rest for the remainder of the day.

Recovery: What to Expect Week by Week

Days 1–3

Some blurring, mild grittiness, and light sensitivity are normal in the first few days. Colors may appear brighter and more vivid — this is your eye adjusting to a clear lens after years of looking through a cloudy one. Continue your prescribed eye drops exactly as directed.

You may shower, but avoid getting water directly in the eye
Do not rub the eye
Wear the eye shield while sleeping for the first week
No driving until your doctor confirms your vision meets driving standards — usually at your 1-day post-op visit

Week 1–2

Vision continues to improve. Most patients feel comfortable resuming light daily activities — reading, computer use, watching television — within a few days. Avoid strenuous activity, swimming, and anything that risks getting water or debris in the eye.

Weeks 2–4

The second eye surgery is typically scheduled 2–4 weeks after the first, once the first eye has healed and your vision has stabilized. By this point most patients have a clear sense of how well their chosen IOL is working.

4–6 Weeks

Full recovery is typically complete within 4–6 weeks. Your final glasses prescription (if needed) can be written after your vision has fully stabilized. For patients who chose a monofocal lens, reading glasses or computer glasses may be needed at this point.

When to Call Us After Surgery

Contact Affiliated Eye Surgeons immediately if you experience any of the following after surgery — these are uncommon but warrant prompt evaluation:

Sudden decrease in vision
Increasing pain, redness, or swelling
A significant increase in floaters, flashes, or a curtain across your vision (possible retinal detachment)
Fever above 101°F

Cataract Surgery at Affiliated Eye Surgeons — Northern NJ

Our surgical team has been performing cataract surgery in Northern New Jersey for decades. Dr. Sanjai Jalaj is a fellowship-trained corneal and cataract surgeon who trained at Duke, Georgetown, Columbia, and the Cleveland Clinic — and serves as Vice Chairman of Ophthalmology at Morristown Medical Center. We offer LenSx laser cataract surgery and the full range of premium IOL options across all three of our Northern NJ locations.

Morristown: (973) 984-5005 — 95 Madison Avenue, Suite 400
West Orange: (973) 736-3322 — 405 Northfield Avenue, Suite 206
Denville: (973) 586-2188 — 1 Indian Road, Suite 9

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