What to Expect After Cataract Surgery
October 13th, 2016
Cataract surgery performed by Dr. Lee is safe, effective, and most patients go home satisfied with their outcomes. However, the responsibility of taking care of our eyes does not end there. Post cataract surgery care is necessary to achieve a full, successful recovery.
What You Should Do
Before undergoing cataract surgery, and even LASIK surgery in Alabama, the patient must be fully informed about the post-surgery expectations to establish realistic goals for potential results.
Here are some things you must do after your cataract surgery:
Wear an eye patch
Eye patches or protective shields protect the eye from dust, air, and other materials that can harm the eyes and can cause infection. The eye patch should be worn overnight or as advised by your physician.
Use prescribed eye drops or medicines
The physician may prescribe medications or eye drops that can ward off inflammation and prevent an increase in intraocular pressure. You will be given medicated eye drops to reduce your risk of infection which you will use for the first week or so. After that, you can use normal eye drops to get rid of any discomfort or dryness.
Contact your physician
Contact your physician immediately if you experience any vision loss, increased redness of the eyes, persistent pain, floaters or spots in the eye, nausea, vomiting, or excessive coughing. The physician may perform an assessment as to the cause of the discomfort and prescribe medications to counteract them. These side effects are rare, but it is important to report them to your doctor immediately.
Adhere to follow-up appointments
Follow-up appointments are scheduled after your cataract surgery. These check-ups are implemented to make sure your eyes are healing correctly, to test your new vision, and to address any concerns you may have.
Expect mild discomfort
After the surgery, the patient would probably experience mild discomfort including itchiness, blurred vision, headaches, glare, and sometimes bruising around the eye. These are all normal side effects and will subside within the first week or so.
What You Should Not Do
Aside from the things you must do, there are certain things you need to avoid after going through the procedure:
Strenuous activities
Strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects can increase the intraocular pressure, increasing your risk of glaucoma post-cataract surgery.
Bending
Avoid bending over with your head lower than your waistline, especially for long periods of time because it can cause an increase intraocular pressure.
Contact sports
Avoid sports and activities that could harm the eyes, such as contact sports. The patient needs to avoid these activities for two to four weeks before resuming activities such as sports.
Driving post-surgery
A patient can drive again once vision has cleared sufficiently. This depends on the person, but our patients are usually able to go back to driving within a few days. Whether or not you will be able to drive without the use of glasses after surgery depends on any previously existing refractive errors you may have.
Recovery from cataract surgery is different for everybody. Some may take longer to heal fully. This is normal, and will be monitored by your doctor at your follow-up appointments. The road to recovery after cataract surgery varies, but Dr. Lee is here to guide you through your journey towards clear vision. Contact Dr. Lee’s team today and find out what they can do for you!
