After The Operation

Dos and Don'ts afer an operation

These apply whilst the eye is healing and are particularly important in the first few days after the operation.

DO

• Use the eye drops as instructed.
• Use the eye shield as instructed.
• Keep all outpatient follow up appointments.
• Be up and about, though avoid strenuous activities.
• Use your vision.
• Contact your surgical team promptly if problems arise.
• Bath and shower, though avoid spray and soapy water from getting into the eye.
• Wash your face and hair, though avoid face down positions.

DON'T

• Rub the eye.
• Put yourself in a situation where you might get hit in the eye.
• Drive until your surgical team gives you the go ahead to do so.
• Undertake strenuous exertions - those that make you catch your breath or go red in the face.
• Resume employment until your surgical team gives you the go ahead to do so.

Post-operative Recovery

The exact post-operative experience will vary from patient to patient. The following though may give some idea of what to expect. Specific instructions and advice on what to do during the recovery period should be provided by the patient's own ophthalmic team.

There may be some discomfort in and around the eye in the initial hours after the operation. This should not be distressing. If it is the eye should be checked by the surgical team.

The morning after surgery the lids may be slightly crusted. This is the dried residue from the watering of the previous day and night. This crusting may be wiped away by simple bathing of the eyelids with cotton wool wetted with sterile saline. No undue pressure should be put on the eye. Once the lids have been cleaned the post-operative eye drops should be commenced. These drops are usually needed for several weeks.

The eye may initially be a little red and light sensitive. This is normal. Sometimes there is a bruise overlying the white of the eye. Like a bruise elsewhere it will clear over a week or two.

The speed of improvement in vision varies. Many patients obtain good vision within a few days (assuming there is no other eye disease). For others the vision may require longer to settle even when the surgery has been entirely straight forward. For most cases of small incision phacoemulsification cataract surgery the eye will be recovered from surgery in about 3 weeks. If a larger incision has been used, requiring stitches, full recovery may take 2 to 3 months. Even before the eye regains perfect focus patients often report that vision is far brighter and that colours are much more vivid.

New spectacles may be required once the eye has fully recovered.

During the recovery period the eye should become progressively less red, more comfortable and have improving vision. If the opposite happens, i.e. if the eye becomes more red, more painful or the vision becomes worse then the patient should seek urgent review by their surgical team.

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