Explore what cataract surgery is and how text to speech can make your recovery easier.

How to read after a cataract surgery with text to speech

Getting eye surgery can frighten anyone, let alone avid readers. However, not all surgeries are as invasive or dangerous.

If you’ve been worrying about or considering postponing a cataract surgery, the following information should put you at ease. Explore what cataract surgery is and how text to speech can make your recovery easier.

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is a common eye surgery, also known as a lens replacement procedure. It removes the natural eye lens that developed the cataract and replaces it with an intraocular lens (IOL) or artificial lens.

Why might you need cataract surgery?

There are many reasons why someone might need cataract surgery. Here are some of the tell-tale signs that your vision loss could require this procedure:

• Trouble driving or performing other tasks due to blurry vision
• Difficulty reading and watching television
• Struggling to cook, climb stairs, or identify the correct medicine
• Not feeling as independent or in control of your actions
• Bright lights make it harder to see

Cataracts can increase glare and give people blurry vision. A cataract clouding the eye lens may also make it harder for doctors to examine a patient’s back of the eye. Such issues can prevent an ophthalmologist from detecting and monitoring other eye-related conditions.

Although cataract surgery isn’t always mandatory or urgent, addressing the issue is necessary to prevent further vision loss and restore the patient’s eyesight.

What to expect during recovery?

Cataract surgery isn’t a procedure that requires a long hospital stay for recovery. Many patients can go back home on the day of the surgery. A doctor can send you off with a pad and shield over the eye, which is sometimes removed as early as the next day.

However, it can take days for your vision to return to normal. During recovery, you can experience watering, bloodshot eyes, blurred or double vision, and more. Sometimes, patients must wait up to six weeks for a full recovery or before getting new prescription glasses.

It’s important to understand that you are in charge of your recovery after cataract surgery. Doctors prescribe eye drops but usually don’t examine you daily.

Minimizing strain during the first couple of days is crucial, as is taking eye drops as indicated. Using the eye shield while sleeping and showering is a good idea.

Light reading is possible, but you shouldn’t overdo it with reading, gaming, and watching movies.

To accelerate the recovery time, avoid the following:

• Flying and diving
• Swimming
• Rubbing the eye
• Getting hygiene products in the eye
• Driving
• Wearing make-up

Keeping good recovery practices helps prevent more serious side effects like retina detachment, eye swelling, further vision loss, and eye infections. Your healthcare professional will provide a comprehensive list of safeguards and side effects to consider.

Can you read after cataract surgery?

One of the most common questions after having cataract surgery is: “Can I read?”

The short answer is yes, but whether you should is a different matter. Firstly, cataract surgery will give you blurry vision for at least a few days. Therefore, reading won’t feel comfortable and may fatigue the operated eye.

Using eyeglasses can help someone who had cataract surgery. However, some people may need to change their prescription glasses after fully recovering from the procedure, so there’s no way to know if your old glasses can help.

Suppose you’re in no mood to wait to get back to everyday activities and reading. In that case, text to speech can help overcome side effects and vision problems associated with cataract surgery recovery time.

Text to speech software can help maintain eye health after a surgical procedure and avoid going against medical advice.

What is text to speech?

Text to speech software converts text into audio using machine learning techniques and artificial intelligence. It can process entire paragraphs and documents before delivering an authentic narration with natural-sounding voices.

Depending on the screen reader’s complexity, TTS software can read aloud anything from Word documents to webpages to scanned images of hard copy notes and documents.

Many TTS tools come with additional features like text-tracking, allowing for a multisensory reading experience. But for someone coming off a cataract surgery, text to speech software is often the best way to prevent delaying the recovery from added irritants and stressors.

Try Speechify to read after cataract surgery

Speechify is a text to speech reader initially designed to assist people with reading difficulties like dyslexia. However, advancements in TTS technology enable Speechify to improve the quality of life of many users and serve as an auxiliary outpatient tool.

The app assists people who need ongoing eye care after eye interventions like Lasik or cataract surgery or if they need to curb the symptoms of conditions like glaucoma.

Speechify can read your mobile device’s screen and help you navigate websites. It can read work emails, social media posts, and any document that you scan into the app.

The powerful speech synthesis system creates a natural-sounding voice. Speechify also has some celebrity voices, so you can have your work research sound as if it’s narrated by Gwyneth Paltrow.

The reading speed is adjustable, as are the voices, language, and accents. You can use Speechify without worrying about worsening the side effects. Switching to a TTS reader will prevent eye strain and might spare you bad news during your eye doctor follow-up.

TTS readers can improve the quality of life during a longer recovery process and improve the user’s ability to perform many work-related or daily activities.

Instead of popping over-the-counter painkillers to power through double vision and pain from the surgical procedure, try Speechify.

FAQ

What is the best way to read after cataract surgery?

A text to speech screen reader like Speechify is the best way to read after cataract surgery to prevent unnecessary eye strain.

How long does it take for eyes to heal following cataract surgery?

Many patients recover within three days of their surgery. However, full recovery and restored vision can take up to six weeks.