Moxifloxacin (Vigamox) and gatifloxacin (Zymaxid) are the most commonly used antibiotic eye drops after cataract surgery. You will use these drops several times a day for 1 to 2 weeks after your surgery.
Complications from this surgery vary widely. Postoperative topical eye drops are typically employed to prevent some of the more concerning complications, such as endophthalmitis or CME. These include a regimen of topical antibiotics, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and artificial tears/mucin secretagogues.
The incisions from surgery should heal within one week after surgery, but it's still important that you avoid getting water in your eyes and close your eyes while washing your face for the duration of the healing period.
Risks of Overusing Eye Drops
However, overusing these eye drops could cause a rebound effect, where the blood vessels constrict so much and so little oxygen and nutrients reach your eyes that your body overcompensates and dilates the vessels even more. This could worsen and prolong your eye redness and irritation.
Patients with a dislocated IOL may experience a decrease or change in vision, diplopia, and/or glare. Additionally, they may report ocular pain or headaches from intermittent angle-closure and/or inflammation. Some patients also report seeing the edge of the IOL.
Your lens is held in place by delicate fibers called zonules. If you've had an eye lens replacement for cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange, your intraocular lens implant (IOL) is held in place by a small sac and these thin fibers.
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.
Once the drop is in the eye, don't blink excessively or rapidly. “Some people feel if they blink and move the eye around they'll get better absorption. That's false,” Marioneaux says.
It is also possible to have an allergic reaction to the medication. Symptoms can include itchiness, swelling, breathing problems, feeling dizzy, or feeling sick. If you see any symptoms like this, stop using the eye drops and see a doctor right away.
For drops that are required twice a day, the ideal dosing regimen is every 12 hours, and for drops that are dosed three times a day, the ideal dosing regimen is every 8 hours. However, sometimes that is not practical, and wiggle room of an hour or two (early or late) should be fine.
“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.”
Protective glasses are prescribed after cataract surgery. But for the purpose of reading, you can use your old glasses for up to 3 weeks until the refractive power of the operated eye stabilises, after which your doctor will prescribe new glasses.
Cataract surgery and sunglasses
Either way, the surgery has still left your retina vulnerable, and even if you have an IOL with that UV coating, you're still at risk to eye damage due to UV rays. You could even cause your cataracts to return as UV rays are one of the leading causes of cataracts.
After cataract surgery, your eyes are more susceptible to infection and complications. Swimming is a bad idea because water is a place where bacteria can grow. Since your eyes aren't at their best, you're more likely to get an infection from the water.
It is very common to have blurry or unclear vision in the days and sometimes even weeks after cataract removal. Most of the time, this is caused by normal swelling in the eye which occurs as a part of surgery. Patients with larger, denser and/or firmer cataracts are more likely to experience more inflammation.
After the drop goes in, keep your eye closed for about thirty seconds to help it absorb properly. If you blink excessively, the drop will not get absorbed. If you place your index finger along the inner corner of your eye after putting the drops in, this closes off the tear duct and keeps the drop in the eye longer.
To help clear up your eye infection completely, keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms have disappeared and even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.
Answer: If you are prescribed antibiotic drops for an infection then you would want to get the full dose. Using a moisture drop will dilute the antibiotic so you should not use it within 10 or 15 minutes of the antibiotic drop.
Afterward, dry them thoroughly with a clean towel. If your eyes are producing a discharge or have a crust, clean your eyes gently with wet cotton balls. Your optometrist may also recommend lid hygiene wipes. Wipe your eyes from the inner part (nose side) going outward.
The drops may cause some stinging, and after about 20 minutes your vision will become blurred, especially when you try to look at objects close to you. You may also find bright lights dazzling, especially on a sunny day. The blurring lasts for up to 6 hours and you will not be able to drive during this period.
After your cataract surgery, you will likely feel tired for a few weeks as your body recovers. During this period, cooking and washing dishes may seem too exhausting. Developing a meal plan before cataract surgery can help you stay healthy and strong as you heal.
When the eye is completely numb, an instrument will be used to hold your eye open while the procedure is completed. This instrument ensures that you will not blink during cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is one of the safest, most successful surgeries involving the eye.
However, I would say it is not typical to have a sensation of a contact lens on the eye this long after surgery. You should talk to your surgeon or ophthalmologist about your symptoms. As far as the feeling that you can see the edge of the lens, that can happen after surgery.