Cataract is one of the most common causes of blurred vision. Standard treatment for this being surgical removal of lens and implanting an intraocular lens. Following cataract surgery, there are various post-operative guidelines for the patient to have a comfortable recovery. With the advent of new technology, cataract surgery has become relatively simpler, daycare procedure, where the patient can be back home in few hours of surgery. This article can help you to understand post-cataract surgery recovery care, certain precautions to be considered after cataract surgery and few important concerns that you should keep watch after cataract surgery.
In the few hours after cataract surgery:
- As cataract surgery is daycare surgery, the patient will be discharged in one or two hours after cataract surgery. Mild headache, giddiness is common in few patients, especially in patients with systemic diseases.
- Once you reach home, the patient is advised to rest for few hours. In most instances, patients do not have any restriction of food and hence you can have regular food. Depending on the type of anesthesia used during cataract surgery, there may be a bandage over operated eye.
- You can remove bandage as per your doctor’s advice on your own after washing your hands.
- You will be prescribed a few eye drops which you can start immediately after removing the bandage.
It may take few hours to days for your complete recovery of vision after cataract surgery. You might notice an imbalance in vision between your eyes if other eye has a cataract.
Medications after cataract surgery:
Post cataract surgery, eye drops are prescribed to control infection, inflammation in operated eye for about one month to 6 weeks usually. These eye drops consists of antibiotics, steroids, dosage of which are to be followed as per your doctor’s instruction. In few cases, there might be additional medications given based on eye condition. Shake drops bottle well before using. Give 10 minutes gap in between using two drops. The patient himself can be encouraged to use eye drops, as this will reduce dependency on others.
Days after cataract surgery: Course and Precautions to be taken
- Vision will usually begin to improve in few hours or days after cataract surgery, unless your eyes have any other disease which is affecting vision.
- It is normal to have some kind of itching, foreign body sensation, watering of eye in the initial few days. This will be reduced in few days.
- Using dark glasses is advised initially as bright light might cause some disturbance or intolerance. Using dark glasses makes you feel better . However you can replace dark glasses with any protective glasses after 3-4 days if your comfortable seeing light.
- You can resume regular activities after 1-2 days based on how comfortable you feel. Most patients are advised to resume regular activities after 1-2 days.
- Watching television, mobile, laptop can be resumed in 3-4 days in most of the cases. You might need reading glasses after cataract surgery if you have got monofocal intraocular lens implanted. You can start reading after your doctor gives you reading glass prescription.
- Do not rub your eyes for 1 week. If watering is present, you can wipe with clean wipes or cloth.
- Avoid rigorous exercises, heavy weight lifting. However regular exercises, walking can be started in 3-4 days if you are comfortable.
- Stay away from dusty areas, this will avoid the possibility of infections, allergies to your eyes.
- Driving can be started based on how is your healing of operated eye and based on other eye status. You can resume driving as per your surgeon’s advice
- Other household activities, cooking can be resumed after your doctor’s advice, based on your eye healing. Advised to wear protective glasses for all such activities, for 2 weeks.
- You can continue other medications your taking for systemic diseases.
- Use eye drops prescribed after cataract surgery as per schedule strictly, till your doctor’s advice.
- Swimming can be avoided for 1-2 weeks. Wearing of eye make up to be avoided for 1 -2 weeks. Start all these activities after your doctor’s advice, based on your eye healing.
However, all these above instructions can be different, based on your eye healing surgery. You can confirm all these instructions with your doctor once.
Concerns to be addressed or keep watch for:
- Few symptoms in the operated eye such as pain in the eye, any decrease in vision, redness in eye needs to be addressed immediately. You can contact your ophthalmologist immediately in case of such symptoms .
- In case you experience vomiting, nausea, severe headache, contact your ophthalmologist immediately and seek necessary help.
Most of the times, cataract surgery recovery is smooth. Proper care and following your ophthalmologist advises can make your recovery easy . All the above guidelines are in general, however, your condition may differ, strictly follow your ophthalmologist advises.
