WHAT TO EXPECT
Do’s and Don’t’s After Surgery
- Keep the eye patch on during the first night of the surgery – this gets removed in the consulting rooms on the first morning after the surgery.
- After the first night, the eye patch is typically not necessary.
- Sometimes with retina cases, if there is gas in the eye, a patch might help if the gas causes double vision.
- Avoid heavy exercise for 10-14 days
- This includes jarring activities like off-road bicycle riding/trampoline jumping.
- Avoid straining activities
- This includes activities like heavy-weight lifting and picking up heavy objects.
- You are allowed to walk, but not jog.
- You are allowed to cycle on an indoor exercise bike in a controlled fashion.
- Bending down
- Bending down briefly, to pick up a non-heavy object, will not cause any problems.
- Specific posturing/head position after retinal surgery is important and is dealt with in other sections on the website.
- Water
- You are allowed to shower and water can run through your eyes but must not pool.
- NO swimming or underwater activities for 7-10 days after surgery.
- NB Keep your eyelids clean with gentle cleaning, using eye pads, cotton, or wipes.
- Using lukewarm water helps to dislodge crusts around the lashes.
- Eyeshield
- We advise you to wear the eye shield for at least 3 nights after surgery, to prevent any inadvertent bumps on the eye, in this delicate period.
- TV / Reading
- You are free to watch TV and/or read and continue with most day-to-day activities.
- Flying
- You are allowed to fly anytime after a cataract operation.
- You are NOT allowed to fly after a retina operation if you have gas in your eye.
- Do not book flights for 4 weeks after a retina operation.
- Travelling
- You are allowed to drive in a car after surgery.
- Avoid travelling over a high mountain pass after retina surgery (can cause gas expansion, as with flying).
- Avoid jarring roads as far as possible.
- Sunglasses
- Sunglasses are useful as the eyes will be sensitive to sharp light and wind for the first few weeks post-op.
- It is not essential but sunglasses tend to help with the comfort of the eyes if you are outdoors post-op.
- Warning signs
- It is normal to have scratchy, mildly red eyes, post-operatively.
- If you develop signs as follows, then immediately contact the rooms:
- Worsening eye pain (especially dull pain).
- Worsening redness.
- Worsening eyelid swelling.
- Worsening vision or vision not improving as expected.
