After cataract surgery, a person should focus on eating a nutritious diet that promotes healing. Foods to avoid include refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt, and processed foods. People should also avoid tobacco and alcohol, which can slow healing and increase inflammation.
Many eye surgeons advise patients to avoid alcohol for the first week after eye surgery to ensure the eyes can maintain adequate lubrication.
Try to stay away from dirt and dusty areas. Avoid rubbing of your eye. Use your protective eye shield, glasses or sunglasses outdoors. Do not go for a swim or hot tubs for a couple of weeks after the surgery.
While each person heals differently, many patients report drastically better vision within the first 24 hours of the procedure. Plan on taking one to three days off of work to be sure you have enough time to rest, but it is normal to resume most normal activities within a couple of days.
How long does recovery take? Your eye will feel normal again 24 hours after surgery. However, your sensitivity to light may persist for a few more days. It will take four to six weeks for your eye to fully heal.
Foods to avoid after cataract surgery. When it comes to cataract surgery, the foods to avoid are those associated with poor eye health. These may include: refined carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, chips, and cereal.
Don't get irritants in your eye
This is particularly helpful when outside in the first few days after your procedure. Additionally, try not to do any housework or cooking after cataract surgery for the first two weeks. If you cannot avoid this, wear your eye shield to reduce the risk of irritation and infection.
Your provider will probably also recommend that you not eat or drink anything after midnight or the morning before the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water. If you regularly take prescription medicines, your provider may ask you to take them on the day of surgery with a sip of water.
“High eye pressure can interfere with the incision before it fully heals,” says Eghrari. “Positions that put your head below your waist, such as bending over, can also increase eye pressure and should be avoided initially after surgery.”
However, carbohydrates give our body enough energy and help in the body's repair capacity after any surgery. Following LASIK surgery, you should have these nutritious carbs: Bananas. Oats.
Water is one of the best things you can put into your body, especially while it's healing. After cataract surgery, your eyes may need a few days to get used to their new normal. They may even feel a little drier than you're used to. This is another way that drinking enough water is incredibly beneficial!
Go home, take it easy and use common sense. Resume most of your usual activities – walking, watching TV, reading and going out to dinner are fine. Please wear either glasses or the protective shield at all times.
You should wear sunglasses after cataract surgery. Make sure the sunglasses you are wearing help to provide you with adequate protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. We recommend choosing a pair of sunglasses that are 100% UV protected.
Please wear sunglasses or your normal glasses during the day, to help protect your eye. Please wear the eye shield you have been given at night for the next 5 nights. You can secure it with medical tape or sellotape. When washing your face, avoid your eye area.
Don't lift heavy objects for the first two weeks after surgery. Strenuous activity (like lifting something) can increase your eye pressure levels. Elevated intraocular pressure is one of the most frequent complications for patients that have cataract surgery.
These chores may include laundry, cleaning, yard work, etc. Any physical activity has the potential to strain and irritate your eyes, especially heavy lifting, and strenuous exercise. These activities can increase pressure in the eye, so it's best to avoid them.
You can take a shower or bath 24 hours after your surgery. Do not get water or soap in your eye. Keep your eye closed while you shower.
It is very common to have blurry or unclear vision in the days and sometimes even weeks after cataract removal. Most of the time, this is caused by normal swelling in the eye which occurs as a part of surgery. Patients with larger, denser and/or firmer cataracts are more likely to experience more inflammation.
Dairy products can be an excellent source of healing after surgery as they contain a lot of protein.
Patients with a dislocated IOL may experience a decrease or change in vision, diplopia, and/or glare. Additionally, they may report ocular pain or headaches from intermittent angle-closure and/or inflammation. Some patients also report seeing the edge of the IOL.
Because of contaminants, no water should come in direct contact with the surgical eye until the wound has healed. Wait at least a day before taking a shower or washing the face. Be sure to avoid swimming pools or hot tubs for at least a few weeks per the surgeon's digression.
You could even cause your cataracts to return as UV rays are one of the leading causes of cataracts. That's why doctors recommend you wearing sunglasses outside for the first year after your surgery.
Yes, it is ok to brush your teeth prior to cataract surgery. If you have been asked to fast prior to the surgery, you should use as little water as possible and try to not drink anything during or after brushing your teeth.