Cataract Surgery Recovery

Cataract Surgery – Recovery

Cataract surgery is not a complicated surgery, unless in rare cases. It is a painless and brief surgery and the patients can go home on the same day of the surgery. However, the patients cannot drive their car or other vehicles immediately after the surgery. Hence, it is necessary to have someone to pick up the patient from the hospital and drop at home. Most of the patients can resume their daily activities from the next week onwards. Patients should follow the instructions of the surgeon to recover quickly and improve the outcome of the surgery. Recovery time required for the patients varies as every person is unique in eye health, overall health, response to surgical process, and healing process.

CataractRecovery

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Immediately after the Surgery

Immediately after the surgery, people may experience fatigue because of the medications taken by them. The patients have to spend some time in the recovery area of the surgical center. The patients can ask questions to the surgeon and the surgeon will provide instructions to be followed. Most probably follow-up appointments are also scheduled at this point of time. The patients may feel stinging and burning sensation during the recovery period. Never rub the eyes until complete recovery is achieved.

First Week of the Surgery

During the initial week after the surgery, it is recommended to close the eyes throughout using an eye shield or eyeglasses. Patients should protect their eyes using an eye shield or eyeglasses because even a slight pressure can open up the incision and sutures. Eyeglasses also reduce the light sensitivity of the eye after the surgery. For the first week, the patients should not bend their head, lift weight and engage in strenuous activities as these activities will intensify the pressure of the eye. The patients should use anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops in order to prevent inflammation and infection of the eyes.

Few Weeks after the Surgery

After few weeks of the surgery, the surgeon will check the eyeglasses and gives final prescription. Patients can take shower or bath, but should avoid water getting into the eye. Avoid driving until the surgeon asked to do so. While going outdoors, it is necessary to wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from UV rays. Ask the advice of the surgeon before resuming strenuous activities. If the vision is blurred even after few weeks, then the patient have to consult the surgeon who may recommend a corrective eyeglass. The surgeon will prescribe a new eyeglass only after the eye completes its healing.

After Two to Three Months of the Surgery

After two or three months, the patients can enjoy a stable vision. A prescription eyeglass may be required for the patients suffering from residual myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. A LASIK or PRK surgery can be done to sharpen the eyesight after cataract surgery. The patients should wear sunglasses with UV protection while going outdoors. Even though an UV protective IOL is implanted during the surgery, the patient has to wear sunglasses. Some people may develop secondary cataract, but will not suffer from vision loss. Secondary cataract causes clouding of the lens capsule in the posterior portion. Laser capsulotomy has to be performed to eliminate secondary cataract.