Having eye surgery is always an important event, no matter the reason. Recovery times depend on the type of procedure you have to undergo. However, you need to give your eye time to rest and heal properly, whether it's a cataract, retinal, corneal, or other type of surgery.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Protect the Eye
Step 1. Make sure that no water gets into the eye
While splashing your face with water is a nice feeling, this action can also promote the spread of infections and cause severe pain in the operated eye. The period during which you do not have to wet it varies according to the type of surgery you have undergone. For example, after a LASIK procedure you should wear a mask for about a week when taking a shower. Ask the ophthalmologist for more details.
- This rule does not apply to all types of eye surgery, so always follow your doctor's advice. For example, after retinal surgery there is probably no problem if a few drops of water enter the eye the day after the procedure.
- Proceed gently every time you dry your face.
Step 2. Change your hygiene habits
Instead of splashing water on your face to wash it, wet a towel and use it to gently scrub your face. It is not easy to take a shower after having an operation, as you must prevent water from dripping into the eyes (except in cases of retinal operations). Wait for the surgeon to give you his consent and in the meantime take a bath, avoiding that the water exceeds the level of the neck. To wash your hair, tilt your head back so your face stays dry.
Step 3. Do not apply cosmetic products around the eyes
You shouldn't put any foreign substance on the skin near the operated eye until your eye doctor tells you that you can. This applies not only to make-up, but also to the creams and lotions you regularly use on your face. Eye irritation generated by these products can easily develop into infections and endanger eye health.
Of course, you can apply lipstick or lip gloss, but avoid any kind of makeup coming into contact with the eye
Step 4. Protect your eyes from direct sunlight
After the surgery you will not be able to adapt quickly to the light and this could cause photosensitivity and pain. Precisely because of this vulnerability, you protect your eyes from all the factors that can strain the eyeball.
When you go outdoors, wear sunglasses for as long as your ophthalmologist recommends. This can range from three days to a week, but it depends on the type of surgery. Again, strictly adhere to the surgeon's advice
Step 5. Wear eye protection when you sleep
In some cases, during the first two weeks after the procedure, the surgeon will advise you to use specific protection when you go to bed. This way the eye is not accidentally squashed or rubbed against the pillow.
Step 6. Avoid dust and smoke
At least during the first week, consider these irritants as possible sources of infection. Wear protective goggles if you run the risk of dust particles getting into your eyes. Smokers should try to stop this habit for at least a week and in any case they should wear safety glasses and avoid smoking as much as possible.
Step 7. Don't rub your eyes
You may feel itchy after surgery, but resist the urge to rub the injured eye. doing so could alter the delicate incisions on the surface of the bulb and at the same time transfer dangerous bacteria.
- Your eye doctor will most likely give you eye protection, such as a protective patch or "shell". You can remove the protection whenever you need to instill the prescribed eye drops.
- Remember to wear protection for as long as your surgeon recommends. When you sleep, be careful not to apply pressure to the operated eye and keep each specific position indicated by the ophthalmologist.
Step 8. Watch out for bacteria
Wash your hands whenever you run the risk of exposing yourself to germs, such as when you go to the bathroom, outdoors, travel, and so on. Don't surround yourself with too many people in the first few days after the surgery; stay home to reduce exposure to pathogens and avoid potential infections.
Step 9. Immediately notify your eye doctor of any serious symptoms
You should communicate to the surgeon all the symptoms you present after the surgery and respect the subsequent check-up appointments, to avoid any kind of problem. If normal postoperative discomfort lasts for a long time, you must promptly notify your doctor. If possible, write down when your symptoms started and tell your ophthalmologist right away if:
- After cataract surgery the pain continues to increase, you do not see or notice flashes and floating floaters.
- After a LASIK operation the pain increases or vision worsens in the following days.
- Following an operation for the detachment of the retina you notice new flashes of light, the number of floaters has increased, you have lost part of the visual field. It is usually normal to still see some glow, but these should diminish over time; if not, contact your ophthalmologist.
- After any surgery you experience intense pain, you notice bloody discharge or you lose your sight.
Step 10. Take care of yourself
To stay healthy after a surgical procedure, eat balanced meals with lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, and pure juices. Maintain good hydration to speed up the healing process. Typically, up to 3L of fluid per day is recommended for men and 2.2L for women.
Step 11. Get some restorative vitamins
While these are not a substitute for a balanced diet, multivitamin products can help supplement it. In particular, vitamin C promotes healing; Vitamin E, lutein and zeaxanthin protect new tissues from free radicals that damage the body. Finally, vitamin A is very important for vision. These are the recommended daily doses for vitamins:
- Vitamin C: 90 mg for men; 75 mg for women; smokers should increase these values by another 35 mg.
- Vitamin E: 15 mg of natural vitamin or 30 mg of synthetic one.
- Lutein and zeaxanthin: 6 mg.
Step 12. Limit your computer monitor's exposure to light
Depending on the type of surgery performed and the progress of the convalescence, the ophthalmologist may provide you with specific instructions regarding the exposure time to the light of the screen. For example, you shouldn't look at any monitors for at least 24 hours following a LASIK operation. Ask your doctor for advice on this topic.
Part 2 of 4: Using Drugs Properly
Step 1. Use the eye drops as directed
Doctors typically prescribe one of these types of topical medications: an antibacterial or an anti-inflammatory. The first protects against infections, while the second avoids edema. If you have trouble instilling eye drops yourself, ask a friend or family member to help you.
Your eye doctor may also prescribe eye drops to keep your pupil dilated, such as atropine, which reduces pain and scar tissue formation. In some cases, eye drops are also needed to lower the internal pressure of the eye, especially if gas or oil was injected during the surgery
Step 2. Instill the eye drops
Tilt your head back and look up to avoid blinking; lower the lower eyelid with a finger and let the drops fall into the conjunctival sac; close your eyes but don't rub them. Wait at least five minutes between drops.
Avoid touching the dropper tip
Step 3. Learn how to apply eye ointment
The procedure is very similar to the one you have to follow for eye drops. Tilt your head back and gently lower the lower lid to open the conjunctival sac. Turn the ointment tube over the eye and squeeze it to drop the product onto the conjunctiva. When finished, close your eye for about a minute and let the ointment spread over the entire ocular surface and begin to take effect.
Step 4. Clean the eye as the ophthalmologist told you
Your doctor will tell you to clean the surrounding area twice a day. In some cases you will need to boil some water and put a clean cloth on it to sterilize it. Wash your hands to make sure they are clean and then gently rub the cloth over your eyelids and lash line. Don't neglect the corners of the eyes.
Wash the cloth in boiling water or use a clean, dry cloth for each cleaning process. The tissue must be sterile, as the operated eye is vulnerable to infection
Part 3 of 4: Return to Normal Life
Step 1. Resume performing undemanding activities
You can do some movement during the day, starting from the day you are discharged from the hospital. However, avoid strenuous actions, such as weight lifting, running, cycling, or swimming, for as long as your eye doctor recommends. Lifting and fatigue increase the pressure on the eyes, which in turn slows down or even prevents proper tissue healing.
Ask family members to attend to strenuous tasks. Friends and family will be happy to help you during your recovery
Step 2. Wait before having sex
Just like with exercise, you need to gradually regain sexual activity as well. All the strenuous actions that put pressure on the operated eye slow down healing. Ask the surgeon when you can return to normal.
Step 3. Do not drive immediately after surgery
Blurred vision compromises driving safety. You shouldn't get back behind the wheel until you have recovered good vision and your eye doctor authorizes you to do so. In general, though, know that you can go back to driving when your eyes focus and have lost sensitivity to light.
Make sure someone can take you home after the surgery
Step 4. Ask your doctor when you can get back to work
Also in this case, the recovery times depend on the type of procedure and the progress of the convalescence. Sometimes it takes up to six weeks to heal completely. Cataract surgeries, on the other hand, require shorter times - usually a week is enough.
Step 5. Don't drink alcohol while you are recovering
Although you may feel that a glass of wine makes you feel better, alcohol actually increases water retention. If fluids accumulate in the operated eye, its internal pressure increases. All of this results in a slower recovery process or even damage to the eyeball.
Part 4 of 4: Recovering from Various Types of Interventions
Step 1. After cataract surgery, rest for at least 24 hours
During this procedure, the opacified lens is removed (a fairly common phenomenon as we age) and then the surgeon inserts an artificial lens. Patients often complain of the sensation of a "foreign body" after this surgery, mainly caused by dry eyes, the presence of stitches or a severed nerve. The origin of this discomfort is also attributable to the dryness / irritation / irregularity of the ocular surface generated by the antiseptic that is used before the procedure and by the fact that the cornea dries during the surgery.
- The nerve typically heals within a few months, during which time the patient feels a strange sensation in the eye.
- To counter these symptoms, your ophthalmologist may prescribe lubricating eye drops and antibiotics to avoid infections.
Step 2. Be patient following retinal detachment surgery
The symptoms that prompted you to undergo this operation may last for a while after the procedure, but should gradually disappear. Surgery is required when neuroretin detaches from the underlying layer of blood vessels, thus cutting off the supply of nutrients and oxygen. Surgery is essential to avoid blindness. Symptoms include painless loss of vision, seeing flashes of lights in the corners of the eye, and sudden seeing of floaters; patients often report the perception of a "curtain" coming down in front of the eye.
- Recovery times from this type of surgery vary from one to eight weeks.
- You may experience some pain after the operation, but it is typically controllable with over-the-counter medications and ice packs.
- You may also notice floaters and flashes of light gradually diminishing. If you see any new glows that weren't present prior to surgery, call your surgeon right away.
- Some patients report the presence of a black or silver filament floating in the visual field. These are gas bubbles trapped in the eye that should reabsorb over time and then disappear.
Step 3. Prepare for a long recovery in the case of LASIK surgery
Although the procedure itself is very quick, recovery times are quite slow and can last anywhere from two to three months. LASIK is a refractive correction procedure for those who wear prescription glasses or contact lenses. It is performed with a laser that reshapes the curvature of the cornea to allow for good vision. After the operation, it is normal to have profuse tearing, to perceive halos or blurry images. You may also experience burning or itching, but it's important not to touch your eyes. Instead, tell your eye doctor if these symptoms become unbearable.
- Your surgeon will likely schedule a follow-up visit in the next 24 to 48 hours to check your vision and monitor for signs of infection. Tell your doctor if you are in pain and tell him about the various effects you have experienced during this time. Arrange a series of check-ups with the ophthalmologist.
- You will be able to gradually return to your normal activities, but follow the schedule set by your doctor. After about two weeks, you can apply your make-up and lotions to your face again. After four weeks you can start doing strenuous activities and contact sports again.
- Do not rub the eyelid, do not enter the whirlpools or Turkish bath for at least one or two months or as directed by the ophthalmologist.
Advice
- Some postoperative symptoms that shouldn't cause concern are: redness, blurry vision, tearing, foreign body sensation, or a sensation of glow. All of this should disappear within a short time, if not, consult your ophthalmologist.
- Rest a lot. If you feel your eyes are sore or very tired, give them a break, close them, or wear protection.
Warnings
- If you experience excessive pain, notice bleeding, blurred vision, or see black spots, call your eye doctor immediately.
- If the normal postoperative symptoms don't go away, you need to go to the ophthalmologist. If possible, try to write down when symptoms first occurred.
