Cataract surgery is the implantation of an intraocular lens into the patient’s eye to restore their complete field of vision if their vision has been previously impaired by cataracts. Under topical anesthetic, cataract surgery takes around 20 minutes and is completed in one visit. Many patients say that they are able to return to their previous level of activity the very following day.
Despite the fact that the treatment is very rapid, it is vital to be cautious and watchful until your eye has completely healed, as well as for many weeks after your cataract surgery. Even while healing timeframes vary from person to person, a normal recovery period lasts around one month on average. You should be able to see well again within a week or two after having the cataract surgery done. If you want to guarantee that you recover entirely and that your vision is totally restored, it’s critical that you carefully follow your ophthalmologist’s recommendations.
In this post, we will discuss eight things that you should anticipate happening after the treatment, as well as ten crucial tips for ensuring a complete recovery after surgery.
What to Expect Immediately Following Cataract Surgery
- Your eye will be hypersensitive to light and glares for two or three days after you first open your eyes.
- It is common to have a cloudy vision for the first 48 to 72 hours after surgery until the swelling in your cornea subsides
- You may have the sense of an itch or the impression that there is a foreign object in your eye for many hours after your cataract surgery.
- You may experience a small burning sensation for several months following your cataract surgery.
- You may notice that lights seem elongated or encircled by a halo effect, especially at night, which is an entirely normal experience that will subside after a few weeks.
- Though uncommon, the formation of secondary cataracts following cataract surgery is conceivable.
Any unexpected or worrying symptoms should be brought to the attention of your eye expert, who can provide you with an evaluation and supportive services.
Ten suggestions for ensuring a complete recovery after cataract surgery
While your wounds are healing, it is critical that you follow the ten fundamental rules outlined in the following section. The first two weeks after your surgery are critical, and they should not be neglected. It is likely that your eye will be in a very vulnerable state for the first two weeks after surgery.
- Pay attention to your hand, face, and eye cleanliness, especially when it comes to contact lenses.
- Carefully and completely follow the instructions on your eye drops prescription, cleansing your hands thoroughly before each round of drops. lean more about how to clean your hands properly by clicking here.
- Take precautions to keep your eyes safe from any harm.
- While sleeping, keep the protective cup that was supplied to you after your treatment in place. Before placing the cup on the table, make sure it is totally clean.
- Keep the side of your face where the cataract surgery was done away from your pillow at night.
- Avoid making abrupt movements or exerting yourself physically.
- Do not use too much soap or shampoo while washing your hair to prevent putting any soap or shampoo in your eyes.
- Do not engage in any physical activity until you have recovered completely from the operation.
- During the recovery period and the first adaptation period of your eye to its new IOL, refrain from driving.
- For roughly three weeks after your cataract surgery, refrain from swimming or engaging in other strenuous physical activity.
If you suffer any unexpected or odd symptoms in the days after your treatment, you should contact your ophthalmologist immediately to discuss them. Click here to learn more about cataract surgery.
Following those ten principles will aid in your recovery, but they are not a replacement for receiving help from your eye specialist or for attending your post-surgery checkups as scheduled.
Make sure to attend your initial follow-up visit, which will be arranged for one day following your surgery — as well as any future appointments — to ensure that you continue on the path to a complete recovery after your treatment.
Do you have any queries concerning cataract surgery?
If so, please contact us. An eye expert in your area would welcome the opportunity to answer any of your questions. If you have been experiencing clouded or restricted vision and are interested in learning more about cataract surgery, consult with an eye doctor to learn about your choices for recovering your full vision.
Depending on your exact condition, you may be given special instructions that are tailored to your requirements; nonetheless, the following are some basic guidelines that might assist cataract surgery patients in making a good recovery:
1. Make sure your eyes are well covered.
The physicians at Personal Eyes suggest wearing protective eyewear and avoiding eye irritants (dust, dirt, pollen, etc.) as much as possible for roughly a week after surgery, depending on the procedure. In addition, your eye doctor will prescribe medicinal eye drops, which should be used exactly as prescribed in order to prevent infection.
2. Take it easy on yourself.
Make sure you have transportation to and from the treatment, and that you receive enough of rest when you get home. You should avoid leaning over for the first few days following surgery since this might put extra strain on your eye. It may be OK to do activities like shower, watch a little TV, or do a tiny amount of computer work after a few hours, but it is critical that you carefully follow your doctor’s instructions.
Heavy lifting and intense activity should also be avoided for a few weeks after the procedure is completed. If you have a more exact timeframe for any of these activities, as well as any other components of your usual routine, your surgeon may present it to you at your first appointment. The New Eyes specialists also recommend that all post-surgical patients refrain from swimming or using a hot tub for the first week after their procedure.
3. Show up for all of your follow-up visits.
Following your treatment, your eye doctor will arrange many follow-up consultations with you. It is critical and mandatory that you attend all of these visits since doing so will allow your doctor to monitor your cataract surgery recovery and prevent any possible issues from developing.