Instead of getting a special face-down pillow with a space cut out for your face, you can arrange a large towel into a horseshoe shape to support your head as you sleep. You can also place trays on top of pillows or bean bags to make a useful surface for eating, reading or using a laptop or tablet.
Face-down positioning (FDP) is recommended after vitrectomy and gas tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) [1, 2] or for macular hole (MH) surgery [1–33].
How long do I have to sit in this position? After macular hole surgery, it is common to have to position face down for 1 week. Your surgeon will go over the needed time with you.
You need to maintain a specific head position for at least three days after surgery. You will need to sleep with head tilted to the side opposite to where the retina break is found at the time of surgery to allow the gas bubble to keep the retina in place around the break area until the retina seals in that area.
Sleep on your back or on the opposite side of the eye that was operated on to decrease your risk of infection and irritation after surgery. If you turn over in your sleep, your eye shield should help protect your eye from significant damage.
Don't do things that might cause you to move your head. This includes moving quickly, lifting anything heavy, or doing activities such as cleaning or gardening. If your doctor used an oil or gas bubble to hold the retina in place, keep your head in a certain position for a few days or longer after the surgery.
Avoid any bending or lifting for 1 week after surgery. After 1 week, you may do light housework and bend over to pick up light objects. Then, gradually resume your regular activities.
Work: You may return to work in about 1 to 2 weeks. If your work involves physical activity or driving, you will need to restrict your activities and remain home longer. You may watch TV, look at magazines, or work puzzles. Reading may be uncomfortable for several days, but using the eyes will not cause any damage.
People who sleep on their stomachs should use thin pillows or none at all because pushing the head backward places pressure on the neck. Or, a person might try sleeping face down with a small, firm pillow propping up only their forehead. This leaves enough room to breathe but helps ensure that the neck stays straight.
You should avoid exercising for at least 2 weeks following your surgery. You may resume normal activities, little by little. After week 1, you may start by walking as much as a mile. You may advance to 2 miles, in the second week and can typically run by week six.
You can have a shower or bath 24 hours after your surgery. Use a clean washcloth every time and normal tap water to clean secretions from your lashes or the corner of your eye. When you shower or wash your hair, keep your eye closed to keep water and soap out.
Activity. For the first 48 hours after the surgery, it is important to rest as much as possible. The best thing to do is to simply relax in bed or in a chair with both eyes closed.
Watching TV and reading will cause no harm. Your vision will remain blurred / poor for several weeks. Often the vision is distorted after surgery. This will vary depending on the type of operation, e.g. if a gas bubble is inserted into the eye, as the bubble shrinks you might see the edge of the bubble.
Your eye may be a little sore after the procedure, but you should be able to take over-the-counter pain relievers. You may need to wear an eye patch for a day or so. If you had a gas bubble placed in your eye during your vitrectomy, you will need to follow specific instructions about positioning after the surgery.
For face-down positioning, pillows should be built up underneath the stomach and chest to allow the head to hang off the end. The forehead may be supported by a towel or low pillow.
It is recommended to sleep on either side or even your front, but not sleep on your back as that would make the bubble move away from the macular hole.
Eye protection:
Wear the eye shield over the operated eye at night and when sleeping for the first week after vitrectomy surgery. Avoid travelling by flight for a few days post operation.
What Happens if You Bend Over After Cataract Surgery? You should not bend over after cataract surgery for at least 2 weeks. Bending over will place pressure on the eye and this may cause unnecessary complications to your eye. The main complication will be a delay in the healing process.
Can I drive after the operation? You probably won't be able to drive for 6 to 8 weeks after your operation while the gas bubble is still present in your eye. Speak to your specialist if you're unsure. You'll notice the bubble shrinking and will be aware when it has completely gone.
You can shower and wash your hair from the day after your procedure, however, it is advisable not to allow water to enter the eye for approximately 2 weeks following surgery.
Immediately after cataract surgery
You will need to have a family member or friend with you to take you home. Once you get home, it is recommended that you rest your eyes and nap. Several hours post-surgery, most people are able to watch some television or look at a computer screen for a short period of time.
Plan on taking one to three days off of work to be sure you have enough time to rest, but it is normal to resume most normal activities within a couple of days. Simple diversions like reading, watching TV, writing, and walking are okay to resume as soon as you feel up for it after your eye surgery.
An adult should stay with you for at least the first 24 hours after surgery. You should rest with your head elevated in a recliner or with at least 2 pillows for the first 48 hours after surgery. Take the prescribed pain medications before you begin to feel discomfort. It is easier to prevent pain than control it.