I had cataract surgery three months ago - totally painless.
The psychological barrier may be a little high, after all, the surgeon is cutting your eyeball open. But the eye itself has no pain sensors, and the cut is made with a laser beam. The old natural lens is burned loose, and the artificial lens (which can be crafted to give near-perfect vision) is inserted and sort of spot-welded in place with a small shot from a laser (again), then the cut is sealed shut with a sort of biological glue. The surgeon will only do one eye at a time, so there will be a follow-up, two weeks to a month later, for the other eye. Meanwhile, if you formerly wore glasses, the eyeglass lens on the side where the correction was made is removed. Do not try any kind of exertion, such as lifting or hard physical exercise, as the tissue within the eye must form a stronger bonding-in of the new lens. The surgery is done on an out-patient basis, you get up and go as soon as the anesthesia wears off. Beware, your distance perception is going to be affected for a while, but the visual center soon adapts to the new conditions. Do not try to drive and watch little TV or computer screen at first, but after a week, should no longer be a problem.
Long-range problem that may develop - the inside of the new artificial lens may develop a cloudiness, but this is quickly and easily treated by the eye doctor with a quick blast of - laser light. There may be “floaters” inside the eyeball, but these soon clear up entirely.
You can see clearly now...