Your Recovery After surgery, your eye may feel scratchy, sticky, or uncomfortable. It may also water more than usual. Most people see better 1 to 3 days after surgery. But it could take 3 to 10 weeks to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible.
After cataract surgery, you'll feel tired and want to rest for the remainder of the day. And if you still feel tired the next day, don't fight the temptation to get more sleep. Go with it. Sleeping a lot is how your body heals itself.
In the first day or two after cataract surgery
You may notice haloes or a circle around light, particularly after multifocal lens implants; this will settle. You should not feel severe pain after cataract surgery but your eye will feel gritty or scratchy, like a grain of sand irritating the eye.
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.
Nausea or disorientation after cataract surgery
Feeling nauseated after surgery is typically an after-effect of IV anesthesia used for sedation. It's not unusual to have lingering nausea for a day or two post operatively.
Your Recovery
After surgery, your eye may feel scratchy, sticky, or uncomfortable. It may also water more than usual. Most people see better 1 to 3 days after surgery. But it could take 3 to 10 weeks to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible.
Sleep As Much As You Need To
You will likely notice that you feel exhausted, especially once you get home after having cataract surgery. This is perfectly normal and you shouldn't try to fight it. Sleeping is a vital part of the healing process, but you will need to be careful.
Cataract surgery has a fast recovery rate with only a few restrictions to contend with. With the day of surgery excepted, no bed rest is required. Most patients can return to normal activities the following day. That being said, be sure to avoid the following until the eye doctor gives the okay.
After cataract surgery, you should wait at least 24 hrs before you can bathe and shower. After this you can shower and bathe as normal. When bathing and showering it is important that your eyes are closed, you do not rub your eyes and that you are very careful to not get any shampoo or soap into your eye. .
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.
In most cases, vision improves immediately after surgery, although pupils may remain dilated for 1-2 days. As the eyes heal and adjust, some patients may experience blurry vision. Blurry vision usually clears the day following the surgery. However, for some people vision can take several days to return to normal.
These chores may include laundry, cleaning, yard work, etc. Any physical activity has the potential to strain and irritate your eyes, especially heavy lifting, and strenuous exercise. These activities can increase pressure in the eye, so it's best to avoid them.
Limit Strenuous Activity
“High eye pressure can interfere with the incision before it fully heals,” says Eghrari. “Positions that put your head below your waist, such as bending over, can also increase eye pressure and should be avoided initially after surgery.”
In addition to wearing your eye shield at night, you will also want to avoid sleeping on the side that has been operated on. By reducing irritation, you can decrease your risk of infection and speed your recovery process. This is why your doctor tells you not to sleep on your side after cataract surgery.
You should wear sunglasses after cataract surgery. Make sure the sunglasses you are wearing help to provide you with adequate protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. We recommend choosing a pair of sunglasses that are 100% UV protected.
medication is given so that you are essentially asleep through the procedure. You may be awake or asleep during the surgery depending upon the amount of sedation given, but you will not be uncomfortable. There is no pain during cataract surgery.
Don't: Eat or Drink Right Before the Surgery
While under sedation, there is a chance of stomach acid going into your lungs, which can cause damage. You will need to fast for about 12 hours before surgery to ensure you are safe from this effect.
You can discard your eye shield the morning after your cataract surgery, but it's still advisable to sleep on your back for a couple of weeks so your eye doesn't come into contact with your pillow and pick up any particles from it. This will help your eye to heal and reduce the risk of infection.
When can I eat after surgery? Eat a light snack or meal when you go home. You can then follow your usual diet. You cannot drink beer, wine or alcohol for 24 hours.
Days after your cataract surgery
During this period, some people might see wavy or distorted images for brief periods of time. It's also not unusual for you to have tearing and to feel some mild discomfort and itchiness in your operated eye. These symptoms should disappear after a few days.
Although true pain after cataract surgery is rare, mild to moderate discomfort is common. This discomfort can generally be controlled with over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol®. However, prescription medications can be prescribed for patients who experience more intense discomfort or pain.
take it easy for the first 2 to 3 days. use your eye shield at night for at least a week.
The primary reason you can't drive after undergoing cataract surgery is that the procedure typically leaves your vision a little bit cloudy or blurry. But each person reacts differently to cataract surgery. It comes down to how your body handles it and how quickly it begins healing.