Cataract surgery is an outpatient operation carried out to remove the eye’s lens and replace it with an artificial one. The recovery for this procedure is expected to be short if you follow your eye doctor’s instructions. You do not want any complications after your surgery. So, this guide will discuss cataract surgery post-op and how to get the best recovery.
How to get the Best Recovery from Cataract Surgery
During the first few days of your cataract surgery recovery, you will need to observe some precautions to avoid complications. You also need to take some prescriptions, including some anti-inflammatory eye drops to prevent internal inflammation. Some antibiotic eye drops should also suffice to help prevent infections. You will have to use the eye drops consistently for the first week after your surgery.
However, you may need to apply eye drops for up to a month, but this depends on the level of postoperative inflammation you have. It is important to use the eye drops exactly as prescribed to avoid difficulty adjusting after cataract surgery.
For a quick and safe cataract surgery recovery, you need to follow these tips:
- Do not do any strenuous activity or heavy lifting for a few weeks.
- Do not drive on the first day after your surgery.
- Once the procedure is done, you should avoid bending over, so you do not put additional pressure on your eye.
- Do not rub your eye after your surgery.
- If it is possible, do not vomit or sneeze right after surgery.
- Be careful while walking around after your surgery and avoid bumping into doors or other objects.
- To lower the risk of infection, you should avoid using a hot tub or swimming during the first week of cataract surgery recovery.
- Do not expose your eye to irritants like dust, wind, dirt, and pollen during the first few weeks after your surgery.
Postoperative Care After Cataract Surgery
Immediately after surgery
The moment cataract surgery is complete and the remaining anesthesia has cleared around your recovery area, you can go home. You should know that your vision will be affected immediately after your surgery. So, it is not a good idea to drive home by yourself. A better option would be to have someone you trust to take you back home after your procedure.
Cataract surgery is an outpatient operation, but it comes with some side effects. Some complications may also occur including light flashes after cataract surgery.
The normal side effects on the first day of surgery include:
- Feeling like you have grit in your eyes.
- Watery eyes
- A red or bloodshot eye
- Blurry or double vision
A few days later
You are likely to face some physical discomfort or blurry eye after cataract surgery. These symptoms are expected to clear up in about 24 to 48 hours after the surgery. You should be very careful while washing your face when you return home. Follow all the instructions given to you by your eye doctor.
Weeks later
Your vision is expected to improve in about 1 to 3 days after your surgery. But you should know that this process can take up to 3 to 10 weeks. You will have a final follow up exam with your ophthalmologist in about one month (the full expected time for recovery) after the procedure.
There are many different things to do if you want to get the best cataract recovery. You should avoid any form of strenuous activity after your surgery. You also need to avoid rubbing your eyes. In all, ensure that you follow all the post-operation instructions from your eye doctor.
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