Cataract Post Operative Instructions

YOU HAVE HAD ONE OF THE MOST DELICATE OPERATIONS IN MODERN SURGERY WITH ADVANCED MICROSCOPIC TECHNIQUE.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT COMPLICATIONS ARE MUCH EASIER TO AVOID THAN CORRECT.  IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CAREFULLY FOLLOW YOUR DOCTORS DIRECTIONS REGARDING MEDICATIONS AND ACTIVITIES SO THAT YOUR  EYE WILL HAVE EVERY CHANCE TO HEAL PROPERLY AND ACHIEVE MAXIMUM VISION.  VISION WILL BE CLEARER SOME DAYS THAN OTHERS.  SOME DAYS YOUR VISION MAY SEEM BLURRED.  THIS IS NORMAL.  HOWEVER, IF YOU NOTICE SUDDEN CHANGE IN YOUR VISION CALL US IMMEDIATELY.

PLASTIC SHIELD

LEAVE YOUR EYE SHIELD IN PLACE UNDISTURBED FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS AFTER SURGERY.

FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER SURGERY WEAR PROTECTIVE EYE WEAR DURING WAKING HOURS.

DO NOT RUB YOUR EYE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

FOR ONE WEEK AFTER SURGERY, CONTINUE TO WEAR THE PLASTIC SHIELD FOR PROTECTION WHENEVER YOU DO NOT HAVE GLASSES COVERING YOUR EYES.

FOR ONE WEEK FOLLOWING SURGERY YOU  MUST WEAR THE EYE SHIELD WHEN SLEEPING.

GLASSES

YOU MAY WEAR YOUR GLASSES INSTEAD OF THE PLASTIC SHIELD

SOLAR SHIELDS (DARK SUNGLASSES) ARE PROVIDED FOR YOU FOR YOUR COMFORT AND TO PROTECT YOUR EYES FROM THE ULTRAVIOLET RAYS OF THE SUN.  PLEASE WEAR THESE EVERYTIME YOU GO OUTSIDE.  THESE SOLAR SHIELDS MAY BE WORN OVER YOUR REGULAR GLASSES.

VISION

YOUR VISION WILL GRADUALLY CLEAR, HOWEVER, YOUR BEST VISION MAY NOT BE OBTAINED UNTIL YOUR PRESCRIPTION STABILIZES AT ABOUT 5-8 WEEKS POST OPERATIVELY.

WHEN YOUR VISION STABILIZES, A PERMANENT NEW GLASSES PRESCRIPTION IS GIVEN.

YOUR VISION MAY FLUCTUATE DURING THE FIRST FEW WEEKS POST OPERATIVELY.

ACTIVITIES

DURING THE FIRST POST OP DAY, IDEALLY YOU SHOULD REMAIN COMFORTABLY AT REST AT HOME.

YOU MAY WALK ABOUT THE HOUSE OR YARD. YOU MAY RIDE IN THE CAR. YOU MAY GO TO A RESTAURANT. YOU MAY READ OR WATCH TV.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID STRAIN AND PRESSURE ON THE EYE. ANYTHING THAT INCREASES BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE SMALL VESSELS OF THE EYE SHOULD BE AVOIDED, INCLUDING CONSTIPATION AND HEAVY LIFTING.

CONSTIPATION MAY RESULT FROM CERTAIN MEDICATIONS, INCLUDING ASPIRIN. IT IS WISE TO TAKE WHATEVER PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO PREVENT CONSTIPATION.

DO NOT DO ANY HEAVY LIFTING (NOT MORE THAN A GALLON OF MILK) FOR THE FIRST WEEK. IT IS OKAY TO LOOK DOWN OR BEND OVER, AS LONG AS YOU DO SO SLIGHTLY, WITH YOUR HEAD NO LOWER THAN YOUR HEART.

AFTER THE FIRST DAY YOU MAY RESUME MOST NORMAL ACTIVITIES, PER DOCTOR RECOMMENDATION. SUCH AS BRISK WALKING, DRIVING (ONLY IF YOU CAN SEE WELL ENOUGH OUT OF YOUR OTHER EYE) ROUTINE HOUSEWORK, AND WAIT ONE WEEK FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITIES.

SPORTS SUCH AS GOLF, TENNIS, BOWLING, WALKING AND EXERCYCLE CAN BE RESUMED AFTER 2-3 WEEKS.

BATHING

YOU MAY TAKE A TUB BATH THE DAY FOLLOWING SURGERY.

YOU MAY SHOWER AFTER THE FIRST POST OPERATIVE DAY BUT KEEP THE SHIELDS ON DURING THE SHOWER. AVOID LETTING WATER DIRECTLY HIT THE EYE.

YOU MAY SHAMPOO AFTER THE FIRST POST OP DAY. WHEN SHAMPOOING, KEEP YOUR HEAD BACK TO AVOID GETTING SOAP OR SHAMPOO IN YOUR EYE, AND DO NOT VIGOROUSLY SCRUB YOUR HEAD. WHEN USING THE TOWEL KEEP THE SHIELDS ON SO THAT YOU MAY NOT PUT PRESSURE ON THE EYE.

MEDICATIONS

YOU MAY TAKE TYLENOL OR ADVIL AS NEEDED FOR MINOR PAIN.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR EYE DROPS USE WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE DOCTOR AT YOUR FIRST POST OPERATIVE VISIT. THE MEDICATION ROUTINE IS VITAL. YOU MUST USE THE MEDICATION FAITHFULLY AND EXACTLY AS DIRECTED.

THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY DO BETTER THAN PATIENTS WHO DO NOT.

CONSIDER USING ARTIFICIAL TEARS OPTHALMIC LUBRICANT AS NEEDED FOR COMFORT.

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BRING YOUR DROPS TO EACH VISIT.

FOLLOW UP

AN APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE FOR YOU THE DAY AFTER YOUR SURGERY TO SEE THE DOCTOR IN THE OFFICE.

CONTACT THE OFFICE  IMMEDIATELY SHOULD ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OCCUR:

1. IF YOUR NORMAL COURSE OF RECOVERY SUDDENLY REVERSES
2. UNABLE TO SEE WITH THE OPERATED EYE
3. INCREASED EYE PAIN IN THE OPERATED EYE, NOT RELIEVED WITH TYLENOL
4. SEVERE NAUSEA,OR VOMITING

THE OFFICE CAN BE REACHED AT 847 566-5300 DAYTIME.

AFTER HOURS CALL 847 566-5300 PRESS #3 WHEN PROMPTED TO REACH THE DOCTOR.