December 29, 2017
Post-Operative Recovery Tips One Week After Your Cataract Surgery
The success of your cataract surgery doesn’t only hinge on the skills and expertise of your doctor, but on your ability to follow their after-care instructions as well. Especially during the first week following your surgery, patients must focus their efforts on recovering from the procedure. Patients heal from the operation at varying rates, but there are ways to minimize the time required for your recuperation. Knowing what to avoid during this crucial period will help prevent infection and any discomfort.
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Keep Your Eyes Covered After surgery, you will be given a protective covering for your eye, most likely an eyepatch, an eye shield or eyeglasses. You will be advised to wear it during the first few days so you don’t experience any irritation with the eye. The covering will also protect the eye from accidentally being bumped and stop you from rubbing it. This is important since even a small amount of pressure can open the incision, undoing all the good work your doctor has done. Don’t Expose Your Eye to Irritants Aside from wearing protective eyewear to keep out dirt and dust, you must also actively avoid exposing your eye to irritants. To reduce risk of infection, do not go swimming or using a hot tub. Pools and hot tubs are known breeding grounds for germs and bacteria, after all. Hold off on applying your favorite cosmetic products too, as some of them may have harmful artificial substances that could cause inflammation. Refrain from Straining Yourself Patients should avoid any kind of intense manual labor so as not to strain themselves. For instance, you must not lift objects weighing more than 10 pounds. You must also never overexert or strain yourself physically, such as if you’re on the toilet, when sneezing or vomiting, and bending at the waist. However insignificant these activities may seem, they can greatly increase pressure inside the eye. As much as possible, do not engage in anything taxing. Always ask for help even with the simplest tasks. Show Up for Checkups To see how your recovery is going, your doctor will ask you to come in for some follow-up visits. Always make time for checkups to ensure that your eyes are healing correctly and to voice out your concerns to your surgeon. For example, you may need to alter your eyeglass prescription or find out if you need to keep taking antibiotics. If you feel any discomfort any time during your recovery, don’t hesitate to tell your doctor. Surgeons from reputable clinics in Los Angeles like Excel Laser Vision Institute will be more than willing to attend to your needs. 2|P a g e
About Excel Laser Vision Institute Excel Laser Vision Institute is a leading LASIK eye surgery facility serving the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Since being founded in 1997, we have been fully committed to providing top-quality eye care to all our patients. Our board certified laser eye surgery specialist, Dr. Ferzaad Moosa, has performed tens of thousands of LASIK procedures using the most advanced equipment in corrective eye surgery.
Sources: Cataract Surgery Recovery, AllABoutVision.com Five Steps for Successful After-Cataract Surgery Care, YourSightMatters.com
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