Following eye surgery to treat retinal detachments or tears, certain activities must be avoided for optimal recovery. You may experience discomfort, itching and blurry vision - these symptoms are completely normal and should not cause serious harm.
Your eye surgeon will advise if your treatment requires keeping your head in a particular position, such as sitting upright in an airplane or traveling at high altitudes. In such instances, it is wise to avoid flying and traveling at high altitudes as this could aggravate the symptoms further.
Also Read: Introduction to Retina Laser
Quick Eye Care Tips Post Having an Eye Surgery
Let us have a look at a few precautions that should be practiced in order to keep the pain at bay:
1. Stay Away From Water
No matter how tempting, avoid getting any liquid into your eye when taking showers or baths for 24 hours after surgery. Also avoid swimming pools and spas as their bacteria levels tend to be much higher than a shower environment.
Swimming or putting water into your eyes for four weeks after surgery should also be avoided, as it could lead to infections or irritation of the eye. Furthermore, it should be taken into note to avoid any strenuous exercises which can spike your heart rate as this could increase pressure in the eye and compromise healing.
2. Keep Your Face Down
Certain surgeries require patients to keep their faces down during recovery in order to ensure the injected gas bubble stays in its proper place and does not move away from the retina. If this posturing is required by you, follow your eye retina specialist's instructions regarding lying down, eating, and sleeping as instructed by him/her.
Use ALPHAGAN pressure drops as prescribed to control eye pressure post-surgery; your vision will gradually improve as the bubble dissipates gradually; during this period you may notice floaters and double vision. You may consult with your Ophthalmologist in case required.
3. Try to Avoid Sunlight
After having an eye retina surgery, it is best to stay out of direct sunlight to protect the healing eye from UV radiation damage. UV rays have been linked to cataracts, eye cancer, and age related macular degeneration - three conditions which require protection.
If your eye surgery includes injecting a gas bubble into your eye, after surgery you will need to remain lying down for at least two weeks afterward in order to help the gas move in its proper place and keep your retina stable. This will enable the bubble to remain at its proper spot.
If you are experiencing discomfort after surgery, non-aspirin medications like Paracetamol should help to ease any pain that has developed. You should also contact the eye retina specialist if severe discomfort or significant visual changes arise.
4. Don’t Drive Yourself Post Surgery
After an eye retina surgery, an adult should accompany you home and drive you. Furthermore, it would be prudent to wait at least until your vision improves before driving again.
Some types of retinal detachments can be repaired through an in-office procedure known as pneumatic retinopexy, which involves numbing the eye, injecting a gas bubble that floats within it and pushing back on the retina until its proper place has been reached.
After your exam is complete, you should usually be free to return home and relax. Depending on where the retinal holes are located, your head may require maintaining a specific position for an extended period of time - you may also require eye drops.
5. See Your Doctor
Following an eye retina surgery, it is vital that all follow-up appointments with the eye surgeon are kept so they can monitor your recovery and answer any queries you have. Also during this recovery phase it is crucial not to rub or scratch at your eyes at any point even if they become itchy or dry.
Your vision may become temporarily clouded following surgery, though reading or doing puzzles won't aggravate it. If you experience changes to floaters or flashes that make things appear blurrier than before, call your eye doctor immediately; these could be warning signs that something serious is arising such as retinal detachment or another health concern.
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