We recommend that you avoid any exercise for at least one week after cataract surgery. Any discomfort and tenderness from the surgery will settle within a few days and you can begin with some light to moderate exercise such as walking or stretching.
Most people are able to return to work or their normal routine in 1 to 3 days. After your eye heals, you may still need to wear glasses, especially for reading. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover.
It is generally recommended to avoid bending over or lifting heavy objects for the first 24 hours to a week (prolonged bending) after cataract surgery to reduce the risk of complications.
Though it may be quite tempting, don't try to lift anything that's over 10 pounds in the first week after cataract surgery. If you consider yourself a weight lifter, avoid this exercise for at least 5 weeks to be safe.
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.
Strenuous activity and exercise after cataract surgery
Most people can do very light exercise the day after surgery, including walking. For activities like biking, running, tennis, golf and sex, wait one week after your procedure.
Limit Strenuous Activity
“Positions that put your head below your waist, such as bending over, can also increase eye pressure and should be avoided initially after surgery.”
You can resume activities like watching TV or shopping after 2-3 days of surgery. You may resume all your routine household activities after a week. Do instill eye drops regularly, as advised by your eye doctor.
do not do any strenuous exercise or housework. do not wear eye make-up for at least 4 weeks.
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.
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.
Generally, the types of activity that require vigorous effort for most people include: jogging or running. swimming fast. cycling fast or on hills.
Same Day At Home. Resume your normal walking, climbing of stairs, avoid strenuous activity and no lifting greater than 20 pounds for the first 7-10 days.
For example, tying up shoes or putting on pants. It is important to avoid bending over as much as possible, but accidentally bending over once or twice after cataract surgery will likely not cause any issues.
How Long Should Cataract Sunglasses Be Worn Post Surgery? Most doctors recommend wearing sunglasses after cataract surgery for at least a week—and many doctors recommend up to a year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For the first few days after your surgery, it's normal to have blurred or double vision and watery/gritty eyes. Your eyes may also look red or bloodshot. These side effects will normally subside within a few days, but it can take four-six weeks for your eye to fully heal.
Some known risks of cataract surgery include infection, eye floaters, scar tissue formation, inflammation, lens dislocation, glare, halos, droopy eyelid, high eye pressure, retinal tear, or retinal detachment.
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.
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.