Cataract surgery is one of the most common eye surgeries done. It’s estimated that over 25 million Americans have cataracts that need to be removed. The recovery time after a cataract eye surgery can vary depending on a few factors.
It will take you about two weeks to get back to your normal daily routine without any limitations. In this blog post, we’ll go through some tips that will help you minimize your recovery time so you can get back to doing what you love sooner.
- Keep Your Hands Clean At All Times
Keep your hands clean at all times. Washing them often will help to reduce the risk of eye infection and bacteria entering the eye area when touching your face or scratching an itch near it.
Avoid shaking hands, and use a paper towel if you must shake someone’s hand. Also, avoid contact with pets if possible because they may harbor diseases. When they lick themselves constantly, they may transfer microorganisms from their fur to you.
- Take It Easy On Yourself
It is really important to take it easy on yourself after cataract surgery. You should not strain in any way or engage in strenuous activities for a few days following the procedure, as this can lead to complications like serous retinal detachment that might require emergency operation again.
Get plenty of sleep, eat well-balanced meals, and follow some basic tips for eye care. Cleaning your eyes every day with a gentle soap and cotton swab every day can also accelerate healing.
- Stay Away From Bright Lights
It’s important to protect your eyes for at least six hours after surgery for faster healing. Avoid looking directly into the sunlight and wear sunglasses or protective goggles while you’re outdoors.
Sunlight can make your healing process more complicated. Though the sun’s UV rays can help reduce inflammation and promote healing, they can also burn your eyes. Wearing sunglasses that block 99% or more UVA and UVB light can significantly decrease your risk of developing other eye problems.
- Keep Your Head Elevated When Resting
In most cases, you will need to keep your head elevated when resting for the first three days following cataract surgery. You can do this by resting on a pillow or couch while awake and lying down as much as possible while sleeping.
You should avoid bending over at all costs because that may increase the pressure in your eye, which could lead to infection or swelling. Your goal while resting should be to minimize any stress that would affect the healing process.
- Ensure Your Home Is Safe
The recovery process can be time-consuming and sometimes disorienting. To help minimize any potential accidents, you need to have childproof locks on all cabinets, drawers, and doors. Also, remove fragile or breakable objects from accessible areas and, if necessary, install grab bars in the shower for safety. The last thing anyone needs during this phase of healing is a house full of broken items.
The Bottom Line
Cataract surgery is a safe operation. Its recovery time can also be quicker if you do the right things. Following these tips will help you resume your normal activities within days or weeks after the procedure.
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