For a safe and speedy cataract surgery recovery, follow these tips:
- Don’t drive on the first day.
- Don’t do any heavy lifting or strenuous activity for a few weeks.
- Immediately after the procedure, avoid bending over, to prevent putting extra pressure on your eye.
- If at all possible, don’t sneeze or vomit right after surgery.
- Be careful walking around after surgery, and don’t bump into doors or other objects.
- To reduce risk of infection, avoid swimming or using a hot tub during the first week.
- Don’t expose your eye to irritants such as grime, dust and wind during the first few weeks after surgery.
- Don’t rub your eye, which is a good idea even when you aren’t recovering from surgery.
Generally speaking, you should be able to perform these activities within a few hours of your surgery:
- Computer work
- Light TV watching
- Showering or bathing
For the best cataract surgery recovery possible, follow your doctor’s detailed instructions about how to protect your eye following your procedure. Usually these instructions will be given to you as a handout that you can take home with you on surgery day.
