Everything I Used During Cataract Surgery Recovery — The Full List from "Cataract Surgery-A Memoir"

In my Kindle memoir Cataract Surgery-A Memoir: Double cataract surgery in Osaka, Japan, I mentioned specific products — eye drops, a desk lamp, glasses — by name. In the book I only named them; here I've put together why I chose each one and how it actually worked out for me. Five books I read about cataracts, four things that helped my recovery, and three pairs of glasses that protect my eyes now — twelve items in total.

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The book itself is here: Cataract Surgery-A Memoir: Double cataract surgery in Osaka, Japan (Kindle edition)

Readers in the US can find it here: Cataract Surgery-A Memoir on Amazon.com

Five Books I Read About Cataracts

The moment I suspected "this might be a cataract," the first thing I did was read. I had no idea what the surgery involved or what kinds of lenses existed, so I picked five books, each with a different angle, and built up my knowledge from zero.

Jinsei ga Kawaru Hakunaishou Shujutsu (3rd Edition) — "Cataract Surgery That Changes Your Life" (in Japanese; available in Japan — ask your pharmacist or bookseller for an equivalent where you live) This was the first book I picked up, essentially the primer. It gave me the overall map — what cataracts are, how the surgery proceeds — and that foundation made everything I read afterwards go faster.

Kaiteiban Tashouten Renzu: Saikyou no Premium Shujutsu no Subete — "Everything About Premium Multifocal-Lens Surgery, Explained by a Top Ophthalmologist" (in Japanese; available in Japan) Choosing a lens was the part I agonised over most, and multifocal lenses are exactly what this book covers. It gave me concrete detail on the differences from monofocal lenses and who each type suits, and it became one of the things that shaped my own lens choice.

Gankai no Watashi ga Hakunaishou Shujutsu wo Ukete Wakatta Koto — "What I Learned as an Ophthalmologist Who Underwent Cataract Surgery Myself" (in Japanese; available in Japan) I was drawn to this one because the author is an ophthalmologist writing about being a patient. Seeing both the clinician's perspective and the patient's honest reactions in one book changed how I looked at my own clinic.

Nageku Hakunaishou Kanja-tachi — "Cataract Patients Who Regret It" (in Japanese; available in Japan) As the title suggests, this book deliberately looks at cases that didn't go well. I wanted to know the risks that don't come up when everything goes smoothly, and it drove home how much you only learn by asking.

Hakunaishou no Wana (Kobunsha Shinsho 1288) — "The Cataract Trap" (in Japanese; available in Japan) A compact paperback that covers the essentials efficiently. It served as a final check on anything the other four books hadn't quite covered.

Four Things That Helped My Recovery

Surgery being over didn't mean the story was over. Over the following months of settling into my new eyes, here's what I actually chose and used.

Soft Santear Eye Drops, 5mL x 4 (over-the-counter) (available in Japan; ask your pharmacist for an equivalent where you live) When choosing an over-the-counter eye drop, what mattered to me was that it be preservative-free — I'd read that some preservatives are said to be irritating for some people, and since then I always check the ingredient list before buying any eye drop. This one has a composition close to natural tears; in my case it didn't sting when I used it, and with my surgeon's approval, I'm still using it.

Yamada Shomei Z-Light Black Z-10GB desk lamp (available in Japan; look for a desk lamp with asymmetric optics and high colour-rendering where you live) The change I noticed most after surgery was how sensitive I'd become to glare reflecting off my computer screen. When replacing my desk lamp, I prioritised a light distribution that avoids reflecting into the screen and natural-looking colour rendering. Writing for the blog every day, I think of this as an investment in my eyes.

Ms. Night Celeb L-Theanine 300mg (Shin Nihon Health, doctor-supervised) (available in Japan; ask your pharmacist for an equivalent where you live) I looked into the ingredients, confirmed there'd be no impact on the eye surgery, and started taking it because I felt sleep mattered for recovery. I was also off alcohol during this period, so I honestly can't say what did what. But simply holding on to the idea of letting my eyes and brain rest at night after a day of overuse felt like it changed how I got through recovery.

Homeopathy Japan Remedy Arn. (New Basic 5) Arnica 30C (small bottle) (available in Japan) Having studied East Asian medicine myself, I took this on as a kind of good-luck charm for recovery. Its scientific effectiveness is debated, and I'm not going to claim it worked. Still, being able to feel I'd done everything within my power was a real support during the anxious weeks after surgery.

Three Pairs of Glasses That Protect My Eyes

Along with better vision came a new trait to live with: sensitivity to glare. Here are the three pairs of glasses I chose for different situations.

GENYED Safety Glasses for Work, Anti-Scratch Anti-Fog UV400 Lens, CE EN166 Certified My go-to for gardening and DIY. Outdoor light started feeling noticeably harsher after surgery, so UV protection became a non-negotiable. Anti-fog and anti-scratch come as a bonus — I wouldn't do outdoor work without these anymore.

GENYED Safety Glasses with Interchangeable Lenses An interchangeable-lens pair — clear lenses on overcast days, UV400 smoke lenses in bright sun. I like that one pair covers jobs like painting the garden shed as well as everyday wear.

Ziffs Vision® Blue Light Blocking Glasses My blue-light glasses for computer work. I started looking for these after noticing screen glare had become more bothersome since surgery. Plenty of products claim to "block 99%," which I found hard to take at face value, so I chose a UK brand that's transparent about how its performance figures are measured.

The Japanese Edition

This book is also available in Japanese, as 白内障手術体験記 ― 英国在住者が大阪で自費手術を受ける. Find the Japanese edition (Kindle) here

Readers in the US can find it here: Japanese edition on Amazon.com

Once more, here's the link to the English edition. Cataract Surgery-A Memoir: Double cataract surgery in Osaka, Japan (Kindle edition)

This page is one individual's personal account and is not a substitute for medical advice. Decisions on treatment, lens choice, and supplement use should always be made in consultation with your own doctor.