Cystoid Macular Edema CME is the most frequent complication after an uncomplicated cataract surgery. Its peak incidence is about 6 to 8 weeks post-operatively.
If you're unable to get hold of them, visit your local optometrist or GP, or go to a hospital emergency. Red flags include: Loss of vision, whether increasing blur or entire areas of black/grey in your visual field. Any discharge from the eye.
The consensus seems to be that it takes 1-3 months. So you should expect your eyes to have stabilized 2-4 months after the surgery. You'll probably have another Ophthalmologist appointment around that time. That's when you should be ready to have your eyes tested and be given a new glasses prescription if needed.
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.
During early recovery, patients will be able to see, but not in clear, but rather, soft vision. Within 48 hours, many cataracts patients see significant improvement in their vision. It is possible that your vision could take one to two weeks to adjust and settle.
Do not rub or put pressure on your eye for at least 1 week. Do not wear eye makeup for 1 to 2 weeks. You may also want to avoid face cream or lotion. Do not get your hair coloured or permed for 10 days after surgery.
Residual refractive error is a common reason for patient dissatisfaction after cataract surgery. Fortunately, this can be corrected with a pair of glasses or contact lenses or with a corneal refractive procedure.
Inflammation in the eye can happen after cataract surgery, but it is typically harmless. Any inflammation within the eye following cataract surgery is the body's natural response to having the eye's lens removed. This reaction causes blurry vision, but your eye doctor can prescribe medication to help.
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.
Do not wear eye makeup and consider avoiding face cream or lotion. To prevent irritation of the eyes, avoid settings with higher levels of dust, wind, pollen, and dirt. Wear sunglasses on bright days. This may need to continue for up to a year after cataract surgery.
Germs that get in your eye during surgery can lead to an infection. You might feel sensitive to light or have pain, redness, and vision problems. If this happens to you, call your doctor right away. Infections after cataract surgery are rare, but if you have one, you'll get a shot of antibiotics into your eye.
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.
Yes, cataract surgery improves your night vision to a larger extent. Night vision improvement will enable you to drive, walk in low lights too.
They range anywhere from +1.00 D to +3.00 D. In most cases, patients will require +1.25 D for computer use and +2.25 to 2.50 D for reading near. The rule of thumb is that if you want to see things closer, select a higher number like +3.00 D, and if you want to see farther away like at a music stand, choose +1.00 D.
Bending down, lifting things, and straining can increase pressure in the head and eyes, which can lead to post-op complications. By allowing your body and eyes time to heal after cataract surgery, you lower the risk for adverse reactions.
Some Don'ts: Things to Avoid
Avoiding eating and drinking before your surgery. Don't wear makeup to the surgery appointment, and avoid wearing makeup until your ophthalmologist allows it so that you can better prevent infection. Avoid getting irritants in your eyes.
Rubbing your eye gently two weeks after cataract surgery is unlikely to cause harm to the eye. Vigorous rubbing, however, could cause a corneal abrasion and even damage the surgical wound. If you have any pain or change in vision, please see your surgeon right away.
Posterior capsule opacity (PCO)
Sometimes blurry vision is caused by PCO, a fairly common complication that can occur weeks, months or (more frequently) years after cataract surgery.
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.
Your eye may look pinkish after cataract surgery and there may even be some bright red localised bruising. This is more likely if you are taking asprin or warfarin. This is normal. Your eye may feel a little bit achy for a few days.
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. These patients may have foggy vision or feel like they are in a steam room at first.
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. Prolonged bending over is where problems can occur.
As the eyes heal from cataract surgery, a person should focus on maintaining a diet that supports overall health and avoids processed foods, fast foods, excess salt, sugar, tobacco, and alcohol. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI) , most people have cataracts or have had cataract surgery by age 80 years.