Cataract Recovery Plan: What’s Your Best Bet for a Quick Recovery?

Cataract surgery is the most performed surgical procedure in the world. Because of this, there’s plenty of proven research and documentation about the best recovery plan. 

The healthy human body takes around eight weeks to regenerate new tissue to a state where it resembles its former structure. However, the process continues to evolve, with complete recovery not being achieved until a few months have passed. However, the eight-week mark is considered the time most people can get back to their normal level of activity.

Of course, we can’t speed up the biological process of tissue regeneration, but there are an awful lot of things we can do to slow it down.

Therefore, a strict cataract recovery plan is vital for the fastest healing.

Cataract Recovery Plan: the do’s and don’ts

• The do’s: the ultimate cataract recovery plan
• What’s your best bet for a quick recovery? Here’s a list of don’ts…

The do’s: the ultimate cataract recovery plan

While cataract recovery is always determined by individual patient factors, there are many things you can do to speed the process along its natural course.

Make sure you:

• DO have someone drive you home after surgery: Your eye will be covered by a patch, and you’ll probably have received some light sedation. Driving isn’t appropriate for—at the very least—24 hours.
• DO keep the eye covered as per your surgeon’s instructions: This will probably involve keeping the eye dressing in place for around 24 hours. After that, you’ll only need to wear it when sleeping for a few days.
• DO carry out impeccable hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly before bathing the eye or inserting eye drops. Keep the area around you clean and tidy when carrying out home care, only use new dressings and swabs straight from the packaging, and replace lids on eye drops and other medications straight after use.
• DO return for your post-operative eye checks: This means your surgeon will pick up on any issues at the earliest stage and carry out any necessary treatment.
• DO report any problems as soon as possible: This could mean excessive pain, swelling, worsening vision, the appearance of multiple floaters, or seeing a dark curtain-like area descending from the top or side of your vision. The latter two are symptoms of retinal detachment and need immediate intervention.
• DO eat healthily: Body tissue relies on great nutrition to heal fast and well. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, avoid excessive alcohol, and drink plenty of water.
• DO take gentle exercise as instructed by your surgeon: Exercise, such as walks, yoga, gentle stretching, etc., will all promote blood flow. This, in turn, promotes healthy healing.

What’s your best bet for a quick recovery? Here’s a list of don’ts

OK, so you now know what you should do. But what about what you shouldn’t…

• DON’T touch the eye unnecessarily: Every time you touch the eye or surrounding area you risk introducing infection. This is one of the biggest complications of cataract recovery. Apart from cleaning and inserting eye drops as instructed, there’s no reason whatsoever to touch the eye.
• DON’T smoke: This is the one biggest thing you can do that will slow down recovery.
• DON’T carry heavy objects or lean forward in the first few days: This causes gravity and/or pressure to build up within the eye–something that can cause damage to the already fragile tissue.
• DON’T miss any follow-up appointments: Your surgeon needs to see you to monitor the healing progression.

Contact the Modern Cataract Surgery Clinic for Outstanding Care & the Ultimate Cataract Recovery Plan

At the Modern Cataract Surgery Clinic, we wholeheartedly believe that the best cataract recovery plan begins with the most advanced surgery. As a pioneering clinic led by global cataract expert, Brent Bellotte M.D., we’re constantly pushing the boundaries and bringing cutting-edge advances to the mainstream.

Whether you’re looking for advice, general eye care, cataract monitoring, cataract surgery, or simply want to understand more about the recovery process, we’re here to help. 

We can also help you find cataract experts near your hometown. Start your search at  https://www.moderncataractsurgery.com/best-cataract-surgeons or call us today for more information.