Posted by: SightTrust Eye Institute in Cataracts, Post-Operative Care
You have finally scheduled your premium laser cataract or refractive lens surgery, you are following your pre-operative instructions, and you have arranged for someone to drive you home after your procedure. What should you expect over the next few hours or days? What activities will you be able to resume and what should you expect?
Post-operative care is vital for ensuring that your vision will be great for the rest of your life! To do so, it is important to follow your post-operative instructions. Most patients experience blurred vision at least for the first few days during the healing process, and you may experience other side effects such as:
- A gritty feeling in your eyes
- Red or bloodshot eyes
- Watery eyes
- Itching or mild discomfort
After your procedure, you will be monitored for about 15 minutes, and then be given your follow-up appointment for the next day before sending you home. You will likely see us or your optometrist the day after surgery, a week later, and then in one month so we can closely monitor your healing. Full recovery from cataract or refractive lens surgery can take up to four weeks, but many people notice improvement in their vision within a few days. Colors may seem more vibrant as you experience them with your new lenses.
Some simple guidelines will help you through this recovery process:
- Use the eye drops Dr. Shatz prescribed for you.
You will have an antibiotic, a steroid, and an anti-inflammatory eye drop to prevent infection, and reduce swelling.
- Don’t rub or press on your eyes for at least 1 week.
Your eyes will be recovering on their way to amazing vision, so you will want to avoid any trauma that could injure them during this process.
- Wear the protective eye shields you were provided when you sleep.
You will need to wear protective eye shields while sleeping for one week to avoid accidentally hitting or touching your eyes.
- Follow our printed instructions on when you can resume activities.
You should avoid strenuous activities for the first week after your surgery, so consult with us or your doctor when it’s ok to resume things such as:
- Swimming
- Wearing Makeup
- Exercising
- Traveling
- Returning to work
- Wear sunglasses outside.
Your eyes may be a little more sensitive to bright light at first. Wearing sunglasses outside will help shield them from the harsh sunlight.
- Consult with us or your optometrist about any concerns.
While it is completely normal for your eyes to feel a little itchy and irritated for a few days post-surgery, there should generally be little to no pain or discomfort. You should see your eye doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Vision loss.
- Pain that persists despite the use of nonprescription pain medicines.
- Increased eye redness.
- Eyelid swelling.
- Light flashes or floaters in front of your eye.
- Crusting or discharge around your eye with decreased vision and/or pain.
The great news is that lens-based procedures are the most successful in the world. One of the greatest benefits of this surgery is that once the intraocular lens implants (IOLs) are in place, the focus they provide does not degrade over time. Unlike the natural lens, the IOL will not cloud up over your lifetime, so you will never develop cataracts again or need to repeat this procedure! If you find yourself still concerned about your post-operative journey or have any questions at all about how best to manage your care, our team at SightTrust Eye Institute would be more than happy to walk you through what to expect in more detail as every individual is unique. Contact us at: 877) 878-7890 / info@sighttrust.com
Sources:
https://www.90210eyes.com/blog/cataract-surgery-what-to-expect-before-during-and-afterwards/
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-cataract-surgery
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21472-cataract-surgery
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cataract-surgery/about/pac-20384765
