Cataract is a condition where the natural lens of the eye gets clouded. Cataracts progress gradually and cause the vision to become blurry. Cataracts can ultimately cause vision loss if not treated on time.
Surgery is the only plausible solution for cataracts to restore the lost vision. In the procedure, the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. These artificial lenses allow the surgeons to treat myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism too along with cataracts.
But undergoing surgery is not enough. To make sure that the outcome of the surgery is what you expected, you need to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully. So, here are some tips for post-cataract surgery that will make sure that your eyes heal properly and you don’t suffer from any unwanted consequences due to carelessness.
Dos and Don’ts After Cataract Surgery
Generally, the patients can resume normal activities from the next day of surgery. However, for the first few weeks, there is a specific set of instructions that you will have to follow to avoid complications.
The lens and corneal flap are still in an adjustable state after the surgery for a few weeks. A small mistake can displace the corneal flap and impact the results of the surgery. That is why it is necessary that you follow the given list of dos and don’ts without any failure to regain complete vision and recover as quickly as possible after cataract surgery.
Dos
1. Use Prescribed Eye Drops
The doctor will prescribe eye drops that you will have to use two or three times a day. Make sure that you strictly adhere to the routine suggested by the doctor so that your eyes can heal properly after surgery.
2. Resume Daily Activities Gradually
Instead of directly engaging in all kinds of activities from the next day of surgery, pace yourself up. Start reading, writing, and walking gradually, and make sure that you don’t exhaust your body or your eyes.
3. Always Wear Eye Protection
The doctor will suggest that you wear eye protection gears or accessories during sleeping as well as while going out. During sleeping, there is a higher risk that you will accidentally rub or poke your eyes that can displace the corneal flap. And when you go out, the direct sunlight can also harm the eyes. Therefore, it is better to wear sunglasses while going out and an eye cover while sleeping.
4. Get Plenty of Rest
Getting enough sleep and rest is important to ensure that your eyes recuperate well. Sleep for at least 8 to 10 hours in the first week. Sleeping promotes better healing and allows your eyes to recover at a faster pace.
5. Attend All Your After-Care Appointments
A good doctor always provides after-care to his/her patient. And comprehensive care after the surgery is very important. Therefore, you need to make sure that you visit your eye doctor for routine follow-up appointments for assessment of the eyes. If needed, the doctor will provide you some additional tips and information for a smoother recovery. And if your eyes are healing properly, you will be able to get back to your daily routine quicker than usual.
Don’ts
1. Do Not Drive
Your doctor will advise you before the surgery to have a friend or family member with you as you won’t be able to drive after the surgery. Your vision will take some time to stabilize and until then, it is not safe to drive by yourself. Generally, it will take a few days until your vision improves permanently and you will be able to see clearly. Still, it is best if you don’t drive until cleared by your doctor.
2. Do Not Disturb Your Eyes
During the recovery phase, your eyes need extensive care. Therefore, you need to avoid using eye creams, face creams, perfumes, hair colors, or other hair products that can irritate the eyes. You also need to avoid using makeup to make sure that the natural healing process of the eyes is not disturbed. Once your eyes have healed, the doctor will give you clearance.
3. Do Not Swim or Take Shower
It is crucial that your eyes don’t get infected after cataract surgery. Hence, you need to avoid swimming in pools as it contains chlorinated water. Along with pools, make sure that you don’t take shower in both public and private bathrooms as the supply water also contains chemicals that are used to purify the water.
4. Don’t Engage in Physical Activities
People often make this mistake that once they start to feel better after surgery, they engage in physical activities like lifting objects or running, or jogging. However, this is not advisable. You should keep physical activities as light as possible to make sure that you don’t strain your eyes in any way possible.
5. Don’t Let Water Get in Your Eyes
You may think that washing your face is fine, but if you ask a doctor, he/she will restrict you in order to prevent water from getting in your eyes. For at least a week, it will be better if you use face wipes or cover your eyes completely while washing your face. You not only need to protect your eyes from dust, dirt, pollens, debris, and smoke, but also from water during the initial recovery phase.
The Bottom Line
At every follow-up appointment with the eye specialist, you will get to know whether your eyes are healing properly or not. If you follow all these tips for post-cataract surgery, you will be able to recover quickly. If not, you may risk your eye health and may also face some other complications related to vision.
There are a lot of post-surgery instructions that are essential to follow for complete recovery. If you need additional help, you can get in touch with eye specialists at Pristyn Care and consult their experienced surgeons to clear your doubts and concerns.
