Instructions for Patients who have had CATARACT Surgery
If you have undergone Cataract surgery by Phacoemulsification, a bandage may or may not be put at the end of surgery. You may experience mild heaviness or slight irritation at the wound site. Please follow the following instructions -:
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
- Wear protective glasses for 2 weeks to avoid any accidental injury
- Do not lift heavy weights or do strenuous activity for 2 weeks
- Do not rub or press the operated eye
- Avoid putting water in the operated eye for 1 week. You can have a bath below the neck.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages
- Do not sleep on the side of surgery unless you have been advised to do so.
- To clean the eye of discharge and deposits – put some cotton in water and boil it for 10 minutes or you can use sterile lid wipes to clean the lids without pressing the eye
- You are allowed to watch television and do reading from the same day itself unless your surgeon has advised against it
- Don’t wipe the eyes with your handkerchief or any other cloth. Use sterile wipes if you feel the need to wipe your eyes.
Medication
Please use the medicines as advised in your discharge summary. In case of unavailability of any particular drug kindly ask for the alternatives before leaving the hospital. In case of any queries feel free to call the Centre. Please remember the following instructions before you start instilling eye drops-
- Do not use needle or pin to puncture the medicine vial. The vial can be opened by removing the seal and tightening the cap
- Always open a new vial of eye drops after surgery.
- Once opened an eye drop can be used for up to a month. Purchase a new eye drop after a month. Store the eye drops in a cool dark place.
- Use a sanitizer or wash hands before instilling the eye drops into the eyes and avoid touching the nozzle.
Follow-up
You will be asked to follow up the next day of surgery and subsequent schedule will be written on the discharge summary or will be intimated at your every visit.
