Dos & Don’ts After Cataract Surgery

If you are worried about your cataract surgery, don’t be. Cataract surgeries are short and sweet and, best of all, uneventful. You’re in good hands with the cataract specialists at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, and there are lots of things you can do on your own to speed your recovery. Let’s explore the dos and don’ts after cataract surgery.

Cataract surgeries usually take about 10 minutes to perform. We only operate on one eye at a time, so the procedure goes relatively quickly. We have a recovery area where you will rest for about 30 minutes after surgery, or longer if you remain groggy from the anesthesia. You’ll have to have someone there to drive you home.

While some patients experience clear vision within hours of the cataract surgery, your vision may be blurry for a while as your eye adjusts to the new lens implant we have placed in your eye to replace your cloudy natural lens.

The white part of your eye may be red from broken blood vessels, which is completely normal and usually resolves itself in a few days. You may also have some bruising under your eye that resembles a black eye; once again, this is normal and fades in a few days.

Dos and Don’ts

One of the most common annoyances people have after cataract surgery is a dry eye feeling. The eye can almost feel itchy, as if you need to scratch it, but please resist the urge to rub your eyes. Rubbing can push the new lens out of place. The itchy sensation gets better each day as your eye heals. If you had dry eye before, the condition could be more pronounced immediately after your surgery.

Do take the medications we prescribe you. We will send you home with both antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection as well as an eye drop to reduce eye inflammation. For the first week after your surgery, you will need to apply the drops several times per day. Don’t miss a dose, and use them exactly as prescribed.

Time to Heal

One of our biggest problems is patients who overdo it and try to do too much too soon. While you may feel great after your surgery, you need to slowly phase back into a normal daily routine.

Immediately after the surgery, avoid bending over as it puts added pressure on your eye. Try not to sneeze for the same reasons. Do not drive the day after your surgery. We don’t want you to do any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for the first few weeks after your surgery.

As your eye heals, you need to stay out of swimming pools or hot tubs, at least for the first week. Furthermore, stay away from areas with dust and pollen for a few weeks to avoid getting these irritants in your eye.

The list above has a lot of don’ts, but there are a few things you can do a few hours after surgery, like take a shower or bath, or do light computer work or watch a little television.

Follow all of these dos and don’ts after cataract surgery for the best recovery possible. If you have to have both eyes done, the sooner your first eye heals, the sooner we can take care of your other eye. You’ll be in great hands with our surgeons at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, so give us a call today to schedule your cataract procedure.