Cataract surgery is a widely performed procedure that restores vision by replacing the eye’s clouded natural lens. The period immediately following surgery is crucial for optimal visual outcomes. Adhering to specific post-operative care instructions is essential for a smooth recovery and to minimize complications.
Why Recovery Precautions Are Important
The eye is in a delicate healing phase after surgery. A small incision is made to remove the clouded lens and implant an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). These incisions, though typically small and often healing without stitches, remain vulnerable in the initial days and weeks.
Activities that increase intraocular pressure (IOP), the fluid pressure inside the eye, can interfere with healing. Elevated IOP stresses the surgical site, potentially delaying healing or causing the incision to reopen. This heightened pressure can also shift the implanted intraocular lens from its correct position. Protecting the eye from external factors helps prevent infection, a serious but rare complication if bacteria enter the healing eye.
Activities to Avoid During Recovery
Bending over can temporarily increase intraocular pressure, stressing the healing eye. Avoid bending over completely for the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery. For the first week, if you need to pick something up, bend at your knees while keeping your head upright, rather than bending at your waist. Light bending can gradually resume after 2-3 days, with full bending typically safe after a couple of weeks, depending on individual healing.
Other activities to avoid include:
- Heavy lifting (over 10 pounds) and strenuous exercise for at least two weeks to a month, as these can also raise eye pressure.
- Straining during bowel movements or from vigorous coughing or sneezing, as these actions increase pressure within the body, including the eyes.
- Refraining from rubbing or pressing on the treated eye for at least one week to prevent disrupting the healing incision or causing injury.
- Swimming and hot tubs for at least two weeks, or up to a month, due to infection risk from waterborne bacteria or irritating chemicals like chlorine.
- Applying eye makeup for 15 days to four weeks to prevent infection.
Knowing When to Seek Medical Attention
While most cataract surgeries proceed without major issues, be aware of warning signs that indicate a potential complication requiring immediate medical attention.
- A sudden decrease in vision, rather than the expected gradual improvement, warrants prompt contact with your ophthalmologist.
- Severe or worsening eye pain not relieved by prescribed pain medication is another concerning symptom.
- Persistent redness in or around the eye, excessive discharge (especially if it is white or yellow), or increased swelling should also be reported immediately.
- The appearance of new floaters (small specks or lines in your vision) or flashes of light, or a dark shadow appearing in your peripheral vision, could signal a more serious issue like retinal detachment.
- Systemic symptoms such as fever, nausea, or vomiting after surgery should prompt a call to your doctor, as they may indicate an infection or other complication.