Eye Care after Cataract Surgery
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Loading ...Before you have cataract surgery, your cataract surgeon should give you a detailed sheet of how to care for your eyes after the procedure. It’s good to digest this information before the surgery takes place, because you will be stressed and it may be very hard to concentrate and remember new details.
Also, contact a trusted friend or family member to read the post-operation instructions. They can help check up on you and can help remind you of certain details. Although some people go under anesthesia for cataract surgery, some people are awake during surgery but still may be groggy due to the numbing drops placed on the eye.
What Not To Do
Depending on your individual case, you may be surprised at what you are allowed to do soon after eye surgery. It may be easier to remember what not to do.
Although some people claim they are well enough to drive themselves home, it’s best to have someone else drive you from the cataract surgeon’s office or the hospital. It’s best not to go outside without sunglasses, whether you are driving or sitting as a passenger.
Don’t get your eye wet. You can still take a bath, but you need to be sure not to get the eye wet. Some people have reported that they were able to take a shower and keep their eyes dry by turning their backs to the flow, but this may be difficult to do. Do not put on eye makeup.
Don’t rub your eye. This will be a hard one to follow, but strange sensations after cataract surgery can be a bit like a nettle sting – if you don’t touch it, the irritation goes away on its own.
Drops and Ointments
You may have to take several types of drops or ointments after your surgery, depending on your health history. Get to know the names of these medications because you will need to administer them at different times. Do not assume that all of the drops need to be taken at the same time.
Your surgeon or the office staff should have detailed instructions on what medication needs to be taken at what time of the day. If possible, write the instructions down yourself. For some reason, the act of writing something down – even if it’s a direct copy – helps keep details in the memory.
Warning
Call your surgeon immediately if you get any of the following symptoms – sudden increase of pain, strange flashes of light, tunnel vision, or a sudden ability to see out of the eye.
