Objective: To evaluate the effect of key-node nursing intervention based on timing theory on recovery quality and discharge safety in patients undergoing ophthalmic day surgery. Methods: This non-randomized controlled trial included 158 patients who underwent ophthalmic day surgery with either intravenous anesthesia or combined intravenous-inhalation anesthesia at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between May and June 2025. Patients were divided into an intervention group and a control group. The control group received routine perioperative nursing care, whereas the intervention group received key-node nursing interventions grounded in timing theory. These interventions comprised preoperative health education and position training, enhanced postoperative monitoring and analgesia guidance within 2 hours after surgery, complication identification and rehabilitation training within 24 hours, and follow-up on postoperative days 1 and 3, as well as 1 month after discharge, to provide continuous rehabilitation management and psychological support. Data were collected at each time point by uniformly trained nurses using electronic medical records and standardized follow-up forms. The primary outcomes were phase I and phase II recovery times, while secondary outcomes included the incidence of postoperative ocular functional complications and anesthesia-related complications. Results: Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between groups (P>0.05). The intervention group showed significantly shorter phase I [(40.3 ± 6.5) min vs. (58.7 ± 7.8) min] and phase II [(120.7 ± 15.4) min vs. (140.2 ± 20.1) min] recovery times compared to the control group (P<0.001). The incidences of postoperative blurred vision (6.3% vs. 19.2%, P=0.014) and ocular pain (5.0% vs. 15.4%, P=0.031) were significantly lower in the intervention group. Although the rates of conjunctival hyperemia, eye infection, and ocular hemorrhage decreased, these differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The intervention group also showed lower incidences of nausea and vomiting (5.0% vs. 14.1%, P=0.051), respiratory depression (1.3% vs. 5.1%, P=0.164), headache (2.5% vs. 9.0%, P=0.079), and dizziness (3.8% vs. 6.4%, P=0.446), though these trends did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The key-node nursing intervention based on timing theory significantly shortens recovery time, reduces the incidence of ocular functional and anesthetic-related complications, and improves pain management in patients undergoing ophthalmic day surgery. These findings highlight its substantial clinical applicability and potential for broader implementation.