After eye surgery, you must sleep on your back or the opposite side of the operated eye, avoiding the surgical side for at least the first week, often longer (1-2 weeks), wearing a protective shield to prevent rubbing and pressure, but always follow your surgeon's specific instructions, as the duration varies by surgery type (like cataract vs. retinal) and your healing progress. For specific retinal procedures, strict face-down or sideways positioning might be required for days or weeks to keep a gas bubble in place.
Since your eye will still be healing, any added pressure can delay the recovery process or lead to complications, such as increased inflammation or infection. For at least the first week after surgery, make a conscious effort to avoid sleeping on the side of the eye that underwent surgery.
Facedown positioning for 3 days to 1 week after surgery for idiopathic macular hole repair remains the traditional standard of care. This is a significant source of morbidity for patients, however, as it is difficult and uncomfortable.
As the bubble dissipates, vision will slowly be restored. When the bubble reaches half its size, you will be able to see a horizontal line across your vision. As the eye refills with aqueous humor, the bubble will shrink, vision will improve and finally the bubble will resolve on its own.
The top recommendation from our cataract surgeons is to sleep on your back after cataract surgery. This position ensures that no pressure is inadvertently placed on the healing eye, allowing for optimal airflow and reducing the likelihood of accidentally rubbing or bumping your eye during sleep.
Sleep As Much As You Need To
You will likely notice that you feel exhausted, especially once you get home after having cataract surgery. This is perfectly normal and you shouldn't try to fight it. Sleeping is a vital part of the healing process, but you will need to be careful.
Side sleeping helps prevent the airway from collapsing and can reduce snoring. "And so, all in all, sleeping on the side — perhaps with their head slightly elevated as long as that's comfortable — is a good way to sleep," says Dr. Krahn. Side sleeping also is recommended during pregnancy, especially the last trimester.
The device has a donut pillow that can be used in bed. This can be hard and not as comfortable to use. Lying on your side and turning your nose towards the mattress is a good position.
Early signs of an eye stroke (retinal artery occlusion or ischemic optic neuropathy) typically involve sudden, painless vision loss or changes, most often in only one eye, including blurred vision, blind spots, floaters, or a dark shadow covering part of your sight. It often happens upon waking and is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention to potentially save sight and identify a risk for a full stroke.
Following this, your sight will begin to return. The timing depends on the type of gas used. Short-acting gas (SF6) takes two to three weeks to disappear, long-acting gas (C3F8) takes about two months.
You will need 2 to 4 weeks to recover before you can do your normal activities again. It may take longer for your vision to get back to normal. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace.
However, it's very important that you take it easy and rest for the first two or three days following the operation. During this time, avoid doing strenuous activities, such as housework or exercise after cataract surgery. This will give your eyes the time they need to heal.
Other Activities: You may resume most of your activities around the house including most routine chores. However, do not bend below your waist, move suddenly, straining or lifting more than 20 pounds for the first 2 weeks after surgery. Bending should be from the knees, to keep your head above your heart.
Sleeping on your side can lead to fluid pooling unevenly, causing one eyelid to appear more swollen or heal at a slower rate than the other. Additionally, subtle pressure from a pillow—even if it feels gentle—can disrupt incision integrity or stretch healing skin.
Allen Eghrari, ophthalmologist with the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine outlines five helpful tips to remember each day while recovering from cataract surgery.
You will need to wear a protective eye shield while sleeping for about one week after your surgery, or as your eye doctor directs, including during daytime naps. The shield prevents you from accidentally rubbing or bumping your eye while you sleep, which could damage the healing surgical site.
Many people will get some improvement in their vision. Most recovery comes in the first few months after the stroke. However, full recovery is less common.
You may be able to reduce your risk of an eye stroke by:
How is an eye stroke diagnosed? An eye stroke is diagnosed during an eye exam. Your eye doctor will use specialized tools and imaging devices to obtain a clear view of your inner eye and identify signs of retinal fluid or damage.
While home, you may be allowed to remove your eye shield, but you should wear it when sleeping for at least a week to prevent eye injury.
For many people, it can take several months for some improvement to occur. However, in others, the operation's main effect is to stop the sight becoming any worse. It's uncommon to have a macular hole in both eyes, so even in the rare cases where the hole doesn't close, most people have good vision in their other eye.
For the first two weeks take plenty of rest. You may cook light meals and resume some household chores as long as it does not involve anything too strenuous.
The 3-2-1 sleep rule is a simple wind-down routine: stop eating and drinking alcohol 3 hours before bed, stop working/mentally stimulating activities 2 hours before, and turn off screens (phones, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping you transition to rest by reducing stimulants and preparing your mind and body. It's often part of a larger 10-3-2-1-0 rule, which also adds no caffeine 10 hours prior and no hitting snooze (0) in the morning.
The unhealthiest sleeping position is generally considered to be sleeping on your stomach (prone position), as it forces your neck to twist and flattens the natural curve of your spine, leading to neck, back, and shoulder pain, numbness, and poor sleep quality. An overly curled fetal position is also harmful, causing joint stiffness and restricted breathing, while sleeping on your back can worsen snoring and sleep apnea for some individuals.