Eye health is about more than the ability to see. It is also about maintaining a healthy pressure inside your eye. It's about making sure issues like ocular cancer are detected early so they can be treated. You rely on your eyes almost every minute of every day, so of course you want to take eye health seriously — every aspect of it. You can learn more about the breadth of eye care and the work of optometrists on this blog. Reading here is not a replacement for seeing your optometrist, but it can be a good way to boost your knowledge.
Cataracts can affect your life significantly, impairing vision to the point of blindness if left untreated. Surgery to remove cataracts can truly change everyday life, removing the cloudy or "foggy" eye lenses and replacing them with new ones. Remember that cataract surgery is an invasive procedure that takes time to recover from and although your sight may be immediately restored, you do need to take care and take time to heal properly.
Got upcoming cataract surgery? Here are seven suggestions for your recovery:
1. Do Not Drive
Do not plan to or expect to drive on the first day after your cataract surgery. While you may be able to drive safely soon, make sure to arrange for a driver on surgery day and plan to stay home the next day.
2. Take It Easy
It is imperative that you do not lift anything heavy or work out too strenuously in the days after cataract surgery. Most eyecare professionals recommend nothing heavy or too physical for a couple of weeks. Avoid contact sports or any activity that could potentially bump or hit your eyes because eye trauma can greatly impact and compromise your new eye lenses. Always follow your eye doctor's recommendations for post-op recovery.
3. Do Not Bend Over
Be careful to avoid bending over directly following your cataract surgery. This position can put undue pressure on the eyes, which could affect the results of your surgical procedure.
4. Try Not to Sneeze
It might be tough, but try not to sneeze or vomit following your cataract surgery. This also puts pressure on your eyes and could cause issues with your eyes. If you are sick or experiencing severe allergies and sneezing, speak with your eye doctor about postponing your cataract surgery until you are better.
5. Stay Out of the Water
Most doctors recommend skipping activities like swimming or hot tubs in the week after your cataract surgery. These kinds of water-based activities increase the chance of a nasty eye infection.
6. Watch the Wind and Weather
Plan to stay inside immediately after surgery. It can be risky to expose your eyes to wind, dust, rain, and pollen that are floating around in the air outdoors; follow the doctor's recommendations and stay indoors if you can.
7. Don't Rub or Touch Your Eyes
Keep your hands away from your eyes after surgery. Do not rub or itch your eyes. It may be tempting, but the eye patch and bandage that providers put on after surgery can help deter you from rubbing.
Got upcoming cataract surgery? If you are having surgery on both eyes, generally doctors schedule the procedure in one eye first, and then the second eye a couple of weeks later. Remember that recovery from cataract surgery takes one to two months, usually, though you may be able to return to normal tasks and light-duty work within a couple of days. Use these tips after your surgery to recover and heal properly, for optimal results.
Contact a local eye doctor to learn more about cataract surgery.