Is a red or bloodshot eye normal after cataract surgery?

What's normal

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says a red or bloodshot eye after cataract surgery is caused by inflammation or a broken blood vessel, also known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage. It often looks worse than it is, and a bright red patch on the white of the eye is a common sight in the first week.

It clears on its own. The AAO says it may be two or three weeks before the body reabsorbs the blood. The color often shifts through orange and yellow as it fades, which is expected.

Usually most obvious in days 1 to 5, fading over about two to three weeks.

When it stops being normal

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is explicit here: if redness in the eye is accompanied by pain, light sensitivity, or a change in vision, see your ophthalmologist right away. That combination is the pattern that matters, not redness alone.

The National Eye Institute lists very red eyes as a reason to contact your doctor. StatPearls notes that endophthalmitis presents with decreased visual acuity, red eye, and pain in the early weeks after surgery, and the American Society of Retina Specialists says that in acute cases treating endophthalmitis is an emergency and needs to be performed as soon as possible.