Eye conditions that require surgery are not uncommon, with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare explaining that 411,000 Australians every year develop cataracts and millions more live with long-term eye conditions. Luckily, there are a few simple things that you can do to make your recovery go smoothly, from taking the advice of your eye surgeon to avoiding eye irritants.
Make Time to Relax and Heal
You will need to take at least a little time to recover after eye surgery, rather than jumping right back into your busy life. Your optometrist or surgeon will be able to tell you how much recovery time you'll need, but you should at least organise a few days of rest. Arrange to take time off work or do less strenuous duties, ask friends and family to help you with chores and childcare and make sure you've got someone to drive you home from the hospital and care for you immediately after the surgery. You should also try to sleep a lot, as your body repairs and heals best during sleep.
Avoid Eye Irritants
It's normal for your eyes to become easily irritated during eye surgery recovery, so it's important that you avoid irritating them further. You should avoid swimming or going in hot tubs for a few weeks post-surgery, as well as avoiding wearing eye makeup or accidentally rubbing products such as shampoo, soap or face cleanser into your eyes. Try to avoid rubbing or touching your eyes, as this could cause infection. Dirt, dust, sand and grime can also cause issues, so consider wearing sunglasses or an eye shield outdoors for a while. Your doctor will be able to confirm if there's anything else you should do. Keeping your eyes free of irritation and infection can help your healing and recovery go smoothly.
Listen to Your Surgeon's Advice
Your eye surgeon or optometrist is the best source of information on how to recover quickly from your eye surgery, and their advice can be tailored to your own needs and condition. Have a conversation with them before your surgery where you ask them what you should do during your recovery, and write down the answers so you don't forget. They'll also let you know what to expect during recovery, and how long it should take. Finally, ask your surgeon to explain any problems or signs of infection you should look out for so you can get quick medical attention if things go wrong.
By taking all advice offered by your eye surgeon, avoiding anything that might irritate your eyes post-surgery and taking the time to heal, you can make your eye surgery recovery go as smoothly as possible.
Share30 June 2021
I'm a bit of a klutz, and I often break my glasses. I forget where I have put them, or I sit on them! It can be a bit of an issue if I'm not careful, as I can't see that well without them. I am always on the look for a more durable pair of glasses that can withstand my rough lifestyle. I have included some reviews of the glasses I have tried as well as some links to other styles of glasses I might like to try in the future. It should be useful for other glasses wearers.