Post Operative Care Instructions for Cataract Surgery
Start using your drops following the surgery, unless instructed otherwise by Dr. Piemontesi. Please bring your drops with you for your first post-operative appointment. Take 1 tablet of acetazolamide 250mg orally before leaving the hospital, 1 tablet before going to sleep and 1 tablet upon waking the next day. The acetazolamide helps protect and prevent pressure spikes post surgery. Patients who are allergic to sulfa will not be given these.
- After your 1 day appointment you should continue your drop regimen as per the instruction sheet.
- Keep the operated eye as clean and dry as possible.
- If you must bend over it should be for brief periods. (IE: Only such as to put on your shoes or pick something up).
- Wear your eye shield if you are napping or sleeping at night for one week with nothing underneath it.
- DO NOT rub or bump your eye.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects for at least one week post operatively.
- You may fly after 1 week.
- When you shower do not allow the water to beat directly onto your eye, but only to cascade over your head with the eye closed. Wear the eye shield at bedtime or napping for 1 WEEK post surgery .
- Continue with all your eye drops as per Dr. Piemontesi's instructions.
- Avoid dusty environments and swimming for 6 weeks. It is safe to wash your hair, but avoid getting soap in your eye.
- You may experience a slight ache on your operated eye or a headache. Tylenol with or without codeine should help relieve this discomfort. NO Aspirin for 24 hours after surgery.
- You may return to routine exercise 3 weeks after surgery.
- DO NOT DRIVE until your surgeon says it's safe to do so.
- DO NOT WEAR MAKEUP for 6 weeks.
Call DR PIEMONTESI OR the NANAIMO GENERAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY IF:
you have an increase in PAIN, REDNESS, SWELLING OR DISCHARGE.
or you experience a sudden decrease in your vision.
Your eye should become quite comfortable a few days after surgery.
You may experience an intermittent foreign body sensation or feel that there is something in the eye for weeks or in some cases several months after surgery. This is due to the small incision that is made on the temporal side of the cornea during the surgery.
Patients with a thin or weak cornea may experience more discomfort or irritation.
Lubricants such as Hylo, Genteal, Refresh or Systane can be used for comfort as the eye heals from the surgery.
Vision will slowly improve. Variable healing rates is normal as it depends on the lens type implanted determines how quickly the vision improves post cataract surgery.
After surgery, it is recommended that the lens is removed from the glasses from the operative eye by an optometrist or optician. There is usually a small fee to have this done.
Some patients prefer to have their lens replaced with a temporary lens or clear glass and others wear their glasses without a lens between cataract surgeries. Dr Piemontesi will instruct you how to cope best for reading and distance viewing during the post operative period. This will vary between patients and even between eyes
For the most optimal visual outcome, it is recommended that you wait 6 weeks before getting new glasses
For patients who have a very strong glass prescription prior to surgery, it is likely that they may struggle after their first surgery, as the eyes are so different.
After the appointment on the morning after surgery at Dr. Piemontesi's office, you will be scheduled back for a 2-3 week follow up.
Following this a 6 week post-operative appointment is usually scheduled with an Optometrist or at Dr. Piemontesi's office
Most patient's eyes feel very comfortable within a few days after surgery.
For some patients the most optimal vision may only be enjoyed once the patient has a new pair of glasses, either for reading or distance, depending on how the vision was set up during surgery or which lens was implanted for the patient.
Many patients may notice more floaters or spots in their vision after cataract surgery. This is due to the vision being clearer and brighter. Floaters are a normal part of the vitreous gel (behind the lens) that becomes more noticeable following the cataract surgery
Floaters can be annoying and most often these slowly decrease, but unavoidable after the surgery.
Sunlight and bright ambient light may be more difficult to tolerate directly after surgery as the eye may not have had this amount of light getting into it for many years. This takes time to adjust and sunglasses are recommended when outside.
Some patients may experience a crescent shaped shadow in certain light conditions on the temporal aspect of their vision. This is NOT the edge of the lens, but rather a shadow cast from all lens types, that is initially visible to some patients. This is normal and unavoidable and in most cases and will become less noticeable or disappear with time.
Depending on the lens choice, some patients may need glasses after the surgery for close work and on occasion some distance tasks like driving or watching TV.
Summary of POSTOP Visits
Day 1 with Dr. Piemontesi
3 weeks with Dr. Piemontesi
6 weeks with an Optometrist unless specified otherwise by Dr. Piemontesi
Floaters
