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After Cataract Surgery: 5 Tips For a Speedy Recovery
Posted by: Center for Sight in Uncategorized, November 26, 2018
At its core, the process behind cataract surgery is a relatively straightforward one. It’s a term used to describe a situation where an eye care professional will remove the lens of a patient’s eye and, in most cases, replace it with one that is artificial in nature. Cataracts themselves cause your vision to become cloudy, which eventually negatively impacts your ability to see. Cataract surgery is the best way to stop this problem now before it causes significant long-term issues that are far more difficult to recover from.
Cataract surgery is particularly helpful when your cataracts begin to interfere with the treatment of another eye problem that you may be experiencing. Likewise, a doctor will usually recommend this course of action if your cataracts start to make it difficult for you to carry out all of your daily activities and to live your life in the ways in which you’ve become accustomed.
Generally speaking, your vision will start to immediately improve in the first few days after cataract surgery. However, it can take between four and six weeks (or longer, in certain situations) for you to recover anywhere close to 100%.
Indeed, every patient is a little bit different from the next, and there’s really no “one size fits all” approach to guaranteeing a fast and efficient recovery from a process like this one. Having said that, if you really want to make sure that your recovery and aftercare processes go as smoothly as humanly possible, there are a few key tips that you’re absolutely going to want to keep in mind at all times.
1. Avoid Irritants At All Costs
By far, the most important thing that you can do to guarantee a speedy recovery after cataract surgery involves avoiding irritants at all costs. This means limiting your exposure to dust and chlorine in particular. Not only will these irritants impede your body’s natural ability to heal itself, but you could wind up with an infection due to your exposure.
To help with this, lubricate your eyes whenever you can using the eye drops recommended by your doctor.
2. Do NOT Touch Your Eyes
Another key tip that you need to live by in the weeks following your cataract surgery involves not touching your eyes whenever possible. Rubbing or even lightly touching your eyes can significantly increase your chances of infection. Likewise, pressure on the eye can itself slow the recovery process. In truth, both of these things can cause permanent damage, so it’s best to avoid them whenever possible.
3. Wear Those Sunglasses
In an effort to better protect your eyes from exposure to the sun and various situations where grime may be present, wear sunglasses whenever you can. Your eyes are going to be incredibly sensitive after your surgery, and this is just one way to help make sure things go as smoothly as possible at all times.
4. Those Follow-Up Appointments Are Essential – It’s Time to Act Like It
Another key tip that you’ll want to stick to in the immediate aftermath of your cataract surgery involves sticking to any and all recommended follow-up appointments with your doctor. Everyone heals a little bit differently and oftentimes a very specific, unique approach to care is needed.
Your doctor NEEDS to be able to see your healing process and how you’re doing on a regular basis. If there is something that is wrong, your doctor can detect it in its early stages and take action now before you’re experiencing a much bigger problem down the road.
Above all else, follow the doctor’s instructions for care after surgery, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call. That’s literally what they’re there for.
5. Rest, Rest and Rest Some More
Finally, one of the most critical things that you can do to guarantee a speedy recovery after cataract surgery involves getting as much rest as possible. Rest is a large part of how our bodies heal from various forms of trauma, and you can put something like cataract surgery right at the top of that list.
Go out of your way to avoid any and all strenuous activities, especially ones that might cause pressure in or around your eyes. Make sure you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep every night for your age. If you feel like your eyes are getting tired, don’t be afraid to take a nap. Your body needs sufficient time to heal, and it needs you to provide it – if you do, you’ll find that a speedy recovery from cataract surgery is well within reach.
