Proper post-surgery care prevents complications. Learn the best diet for eye healing, exercise guidelines, and lifestyle changes to protect your vision.
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The hours immediately following eye surgery are focused on protection and rest. An eye shield is often placed over the operated eye to prevent accidental rubbing or pressure, especially during sleep.
Patients may experience grogginess from sedation. The eye may feel scratchy, gritty, or watery. These are normal sensations as the numbing wears off.
Vision is typically blurry initially. It is crucial to have a responsible adult to drive the patient home and assist with initial medication administration.
Postoperative drops are vital for preventing infection and controlling inflammation. Antibiotic drops kill bacteria, while steroid or NSAID drops reduce swelling and pain.
Patients must strictly follow the dosing schedule. “Tapering” schedules, where the frequency of drops is gradually reduced over weeks, are common for steroids.
Wash your hands thoroughly before instilling drops. Avoid touching the dropper tip to the eye to maintain sterility.
To ensure proper healing, physical activity is limited. Heavy lifting, straining, and bending over at the waist increase pressure in the head and eyes, which can be dangerous after intraocular surgery.
Strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least a week or two. Swimming and hot tubs are strictly prohibited to prevent infection from contaminated water.
Patients can usually read and watch TV, but they should rest if their eyes feel tired. Returning to work depends on the visual demands of the job.
Keeping the eye clean is paramount. Patients should avoid getting soap or water directly in the eye while showering for the first few days.
Dusty or dirty environments should be avoided to prevent irritation and infection. Wearing sunglasses outside protects the eyes from wind, dust, and bright light sensitivity.
Make-up, especially mascara and eyeliner, should not be worn for at least a week or two to prevent particles from entering the healing incision.
Most eye surgeries involve minimal pain. Mild scratching or a foreign body sensation is treated with artificial tears and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen.
Severe pain, deep aching, or headache is not normal and should be reported immediately. It could indicate high pressure or infection.
Ice packs can be gently applied to the surrounding bones (brow and cheek) to reduce swelling, but pressure should never be applied to the eyeball itself.
Patients play a key role in monitoring their recovery. The warning signs of complications can be remembered with the acronym RSVP: Redness, Sensitivity, Vision, Pain.
If redness increases, light sensitivity worsens, vision decreases, or pain intensifies, the surgeon must be contacted immediately.
Endophthalmitis is a rare but serious infection inside the eye. Early detection and antibiotic injection are the only ways to save vision.
For certain retinal surgeries involving a gas bubble, specific head positioning is critical. The bubble floats up, and the patient must position their head so the bubble presses against the retinal tear.
This “face down” positioning may be required for days or weeks. Failure to maintain the position can result in surgical failure.
Special equipment, such as face-down chairs and pillows, can help maintain comfort. Patients cannot fly in an airplane until the gas bubble dissolves due to the risk of expansion.
Postoperative visits are scheduled to check healing. The first visit is usually the day after surgery to check pressure and the integrity of the incision.
Subsequent visits monitor the resolution of inflammation and the stability of the visual outcome. Refraction for new glasses is typically done once the eye has fully healed and stabilized.
These appointments are opportunities to adjust medications and address any patient concerns.
Visual recovery varies by procedure. LASIK patients often see well the next day. Cataract patients may see improvement within days, but fluctuations are common for weeks.
Retinal surgery and corneal transplants take months for the final vision to stabilize. Patients need realistic expectations and patience.
Temporary glasses or using an old prescription may be necessary during the transition period. The brain also needs time to adapt to new visual input.
Often, surgery is done on one eye at a time. This creates a temporary imbalance in vision. The unoperated eye may have poor vision, or the difference in prescription may cause dizziness.
Patients must be careful with depth perception and balance. If the second eye requires surgery, it is typically scheduled a few weeks later once the first eye is stable.
Continuing care for the fellow eye is important, especially monitoring for similar disease processes.
Good nutrition supports tissue repair. A balanced diet with vitamins and protein helps the body heal. Hydration is important for the tear film.
People with diabetes must maintain strict blood sugar control. High sugar levels can increase the risk of infection and slow wound healing.
Smoking cessation is strongly advised, as smoke irritates the eye and constricts blood vessels, impeding healing.
Recovering from eye surgery can be anxious. The temporary loss of clear vision can feel isolating and frightening.
Support from family and friends is vital for practical tasks and emotional reassurance. Knowing that visual fluctuations are normal helps reduce anxiety.
For patients with permanent vision loss, referrals to support groups and low-vision rehabilitation services can provide coping strategies.
Surgery is often just one step in managing a chronic condition. Glaucoma patients may still need drops after surgery. Diabetic patients need lifelong retinal screening.
Regular annual exams are essential to monitor the health of the eye and the integrity of surgical implants.
Protecting the eyes from UV light and trauma helps preserve surgical results in the long term.
Even after the initial healing, dry eye is a common complaint. The nerves in the cornea are temporarily disrupted by incisions, reducing the tear reflex.
Long-term use of preservative-free artificial tears improves comfort and visual quality. A smooth tear film allows light to focus sharply.
Patients should use tears proactively, not just when the eye hurts. This maintains a healthy ocular surface.
Patients who undergo surgery other than refractive correction may want to resume contact lens wear. This must be delayed until the eye is fully healed and sutures are removed.
The shape of the eye may have changed, requiring a new fitting. Rigid gas-permeable lenses are often used after corneal transplants to mask irregularities.
Hygiene is critical to prevent infection in the compromised eye.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
You can usually wash your hair a day or two after surgery, but you must keep your eyes closed or tilt your head back to prevent water or shampoo from entering the operated eye.
Fluctuations are normal as the cornea heals and swelling resolves; dryness can also cause vision to come and go, which is why using
For the first week, avoid bending your head below your waist; prop your foot up on a stool or chair to tie your shoes and keep your head elevated.
Accidental rubbing can open incisions or displace a flap; this is why wearing the protective plastic shield, taped over your eye at bedtime, is mandatory for the first week.
You should avoid eye makeup, such as mascara and eyeliner, for at least 1 to 2 weeks to prevent particles from flaking into the healing incision and causing infection.
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