What is the My Cataract Drops app?

My Cataract Drops is a free app built by Dr. Tokuhara for his cataract surgery patients. It sends push notifications when each eye drop is due, tracks multiple bottles across your recovery schedule, and provides technique guidance to help you use your drops correctly.

Is the My Cataract Drops app free?

Yes. The app is completely free for all Desert Vision Center patients. There are no subscriptions, no ads, and no in-app purchases. It was built specifically to help patients stay on track with their post-operative drop schedule.

How does the eye drop reminder app work?

You enter your surgery date and the app automatically sets up your complete drop schedule. It sends push notifications when each drop is due, shows you which bottle to use, and tracks your progress week by week as the schedule tapers down.

Why is it important to follow my eye drop schedule after cataract surgery?

Post-operative eye drops prevent infection and control inflammation during healing. Missing doses or stopping early can increase the risk of complications. The drops typically follow a tapering schedule over four to six weeks, with different bottles used at different times.

Can I use the app if I had surgery with a different doctor?

The app is designed for Desert Vision Center patients and follows Dr. Tokuhara's specific post-operative drop protocols. If you had surgery elsewhere, your drop schedule may differ. Always follow your own surgeon's instructions.

My Cataract Drops: Free Eye Drop Reminder App from Desert Vision Center

Why I Built This

"I cannot keep track of all these drops."

I used to hear this from patients every single week. Even though we simplify recovery by combining drops into a compounded bottle whenever possible, it is still surprisingly easy to lose track. You are living an active retirement, juggling a first eye and second eye schedule throughout the day, and life does not stop because you had surgery.

So I built an app to solve it. Not a generic medication tracker. A tool designed specifically for cataract surgery patients, by a cataract surgeon who knows exactly what the post-operative schedule looks like.

How It Works

1. Tell us about your surgery

Select which eye was operated on and your surgery date. The app automatically builds your personalized drop schedule based on Dr. Tokuhara's post-operative protocol.

My Cataract Drops dose reminder with push notification

2. Get reminded when each drop is due

Push notifications tell you exactly which bottle to use and which eye to treat. No guessing, no checking the paper instructions. Just open, drop, confirm.

My Cataract Drops how to apply eye drops guide

3. Learn the right technique

Built-in guides show you exactly how to apply drops correctly, what is normal during recovery, and when to call the clinic. Written by Dr. Tokuhara, not generic medical content.

My Cataract Drops recovery timeline and treatment start confirmation

4. Track your recovery week by week

See your progress through the recovery timeline. Know when drops taper, when follow-ups are due, and when you are approaching the finish line.

See It In Action

Why this matters

Every surgeon says "use your drops." Not every surgeon personally builds you a tool to actually do it. Compliance with post-operative eye drops is one of the biggest variables in recovery outcomes. If I can make it easier for my patients to stay on schedule, their eyes heal better. It is that simple.

Why Drop Reminders Work

This app is not a convenience feature. It is built on published clinical evidence.

Research consistently shows that forgetfulness is the number one reason patients miss their post-operative eye drops. Studies report that adherence rates for topical eye medications range from just 30% to 80% without any intervention. That gap between "prescribed" and "actually used" is where complications happen.

The good news: randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews confirm that push notification reminders significantly improve compliance. The approach behind My Cataract Drops is not guesswork. It is supported by peer-reviewed evidence from ophthalmology and digital health research.

SMS reminders reduce anxiety and improve compliance after cataract surgery

A randomized controlled trial found that medication reminders sent to patients after cataract surgery significantly reduced postoperative anxiety and improved drop compliance. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing

Forgetfulness is the leading cause of noncompliance

A study of cataract surgery patients found that noncompliance is common even when patients understand the importance of their drops, with forgetfulness identified as a primary factor. SAGE Open Medicine, 2023

Smartphone notifications improve medication adherence

A review in Current Opinion in Ophthalmology found that digital tools and smartphone app notifications improve medication adherence, with untreated adherence rates for topical medications as low as 30%. Current Opinion in Ophthalmology, 2022

Automated reminders improve adherence (JAMA Ophthalmology)

Published in one of ophthalmology's highest-impact journals, this study demonstrated that automated telecommunication-based reminders improved medication adherence for once-daily eye drops. JAMA Ophthalmology

Eye drop reminder app improves adherence scores

The EyePhone study showed that a smartphone app with timed notifications improved scores on the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, a validated measure of how consistently patients take their medications. Graefe's Archive, 2021

Systematic review confirms apps promote adherence (2025)

The most recent systematic review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research confirmed that mobile applications effectively promote medication adherence across chronic conditions. JMIR, 2025

Better compliance means less inflammation, fewer complications, and smoother healing. That is why this app exists.

Everything Included

Push notifications

Alerts when each drop is due. Works even when the app is closed.

Visual bottle tracking

The app shows your bottle's relative fluid level as you progress through recovery. If the app shows half full but your real bottle is nearly empty, it is a gentle reminder that some doses may have missed their mark. Not a problem, just a signal that we can get you a refill before you run out.

Personalized schedule

Based on your surgery date and Dr. Tokuhara's post-op protocol. Not a generic template.

Dose tracking

Mark each dose as complete. See what you have done and what is still ahead.

Week-by-week timeline

Know where you are in the recovery process at all times.

My Cataract Drops

Why I Built This