subject: What you should know after having cataract surgery [print this page] What you should know after having cataract surgery
The period after cataract surgery is very important. Your eye doctor will patch your eye by using protective eye shield which is made of plastic .you will use this protective shield for few weeks especially when you are sleeping or when you decided to go out.
Common symptoms of post cataract surgery:
1- Mild eye discomfort
2- Itching
3- Foreign body sensation
Your eye doctor will give you post cataract medication or eye drops prescriptions. you should use these eye drops for few weeks. These post cataract eye drops are usually a combination of steroid to reduce the inflammation and antibiotics to prevent infection.
Your eye doctor also will give you instructions in which you should follow them for the first few weeks till your cataract surgery wound is completely sealed and the risk of infection is reduced.
These instructions are:
1- Use the given eye drops as prescribed
2- Avoid bending because you will add more pressure on the wound
3- Avoid exercise and heavy lifting
4- Avoid pressing or rubbing your eyes
5- Avoid washing your eye when you wash you face or taking a bath
6- Avoid swimming or hot tubs
7- Avoid clean the house, garden or changing the litter box to minimize the exposure to germs and dusts
8- In case you feel pain or you notice any discharge from your eye, you should go directly to the emergency room or visit your eye doctor as soon as you can
9- Wash your hand before using eye drops
You will be asked to follow up in the outpatient clinic in the next day, after 1 week and then after 1 month.
In case you had complications during surgery or you have a high risk factor for infections, you eye doctor will ask you to followup the clinic more often and also he might add more eye drops
