Under eye swelling/puffiness post Cataract surgery?

Question

My mother recently(3 days ago) had Cataract surgery on one eye. So far, her eye looks and feels fine, but she has noticed significant bags under both of them. She is using several eyedrops as well. Is this considered a normal side effect? And if so, will it go away or is this something that might be permanent? Prior to the procedure, she never had these bags.

Andrea Nowonty Hass, MD · Answer

It is not unusual for patients to notice puffiness under their eyes after cataract or LASIK surgery. Depending on the type of anesthesia used (re local numbing), or the drops used, some puffiness can be related to the surgery and if so should resolve. However, since Mom's puffiness is under both eyes, and the cataract surgery was performed on one eye, it is most likely that the bags were present prior to surgery.  With her improved vision she is now seeing things she had not noticed as clearly prior to surgery. Once Mom has healed from her surgery, she can consider lower lid blepharoplasty to remove the eyelid bags. Talk to her ophthalmologist for a recommendation for a surgeon they trust for lower lid surgery.

Ahad Mahootchi, MD · Answer

Many times the lower eye lid fat pads are more noticeable after surgery when you wear glasses less.It's easy to fix with a lower lid blepharoplasty.Rarely the lids can change appearance with the type of drops used post op.

Under eye swelling/puffiness post Cataract surgery?

Answers (2)