Cataract surgery involves removing the eye’s clouded natural lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). This procedure is highly common and generally leads to a rapid recovery for most patients. While you can walk after surgery, following simple, temporary movement guidelines is paramount for a successful outcome. These guidelines protect the tiny incision made in the eye, ensuring the new lens settles correctly and the tissue heals without complication. The focus during the recovery period is on preventing physical strain.
Immediate Post-Surgery Mobility
You can walk immediately after cataract surgery, but you must move slowly and deliberately. The primary goal during the first 24 hours is rest and avoiding any sudden, jarring motions. You must arrange for a ride home, as the effects of sedation and temporary blurry vision make driving unsafe.
Movement should be limited to necessary activities, such as short, careful trips to the bathroom or moving to a comfortable chair for rest. Avoid quickly turning your head or making any movement that could cause you to stumble or bump your healing eye. Rest is encouraged, often with a protective shield worn over the eye as instructed by your surgeon.
Resuming Normal Walking and Movement
Within 24 to 48 hours following the procedure, you can typically begin to increase your walking activity. This light movement is beneficial, as gentle walking promotes healthy blood circulation, which aids the body’s natural healing processes. You may walk outdoors, though wearing the protective shield or sunglasses is recommended to guard against wind, dust, and bright light sensitivity.
Climbing stairs is usually permitted, provided you take your time and use handrails to ensure stability and prevent falls. Many patients feel comfortable resuming light household tasks within the first few days. The return to these routine movements should always be gradual and non-jarring.
Activities to Strictly Avoid During Recovery
The most important restriction involves avoiding activities that significantly increase intraocular pressure (IOP) within the eye. Any form of strenuous activity, including running, jogging, or high-impact exercise, must be avoided for approximately one to two weeks. Such activities cause rapid head movement and physical strain that can interfere with the tiny incision’s ability to seal properly.
Heavy lifting is restricted, typically anything weighing more than 5 to 10 pounds, as straining can momentarily spike the pressure inside the eye. Similarly, you must avoid bending over at the waist, which drives blood flow and pressure to the head and eyes. Instead, squat or kneel to pick up objects, keeping your head upright.
Exposure to water sources like swimming pools, hot tubs, and lakes should be avoided for two to four weeks because of the high risk of bacterial infection entering the surgical site.
Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Attention
While recovery is usually straightforward, certain symptoms indicate a need for immediate contact with your ophthalmologist. Acute, severe eye pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter medication is a serious warning sign. A sudden, noticeable decrease in your vision after an initial improvement also requires urgent medical review.
You must also report any new visual disturbances, such as flashes of light or an increase in the number of floating spots, which may signal a complication. Persistent redness, excessive discharge, or swelling that seems to worsen instead of improve are signs of potential infection or inflammation. Nausea or vomiting that accompanies eye discomfort can also be related to increased eye pressure and should not be ignored.