There are millions of individuals who undergo cataract surgery every year. The recovery from cataract surgery is usually relatively seamless. However, you will want to take a few precautions as you recover to ensure that you heal well and your vision restores properly. Keep reading to learn a few tips that will help you recover from your cataract surgery.

Minimize Any Strenuous Activity

You will want to avoid anything that could result in you needing to lift something heavy for a few weeks to minimize the chances of causing an increase in eye pressure. Too much eye pressure can have a direct and negative impact on the incision prior to it having a chance to fully heal. Therefore, you should avoid any kind of strenuous activity, including physical exercise. The same can be said of activities that require you to put your head below the waist (bending over).

Take Care with Exposure to Water

When your eyes are exposed to water after cataract surgery, there is a serious risk of irritation or infection. Following the surgical procedure, you will want to wait at least a whole day before you shower. When you do take a shower, you will want to try to ensure that the water does not directly hit your eyes. You should wait several weeks before swimming in a pool or utilizing a hot tub.

Protect Your Eyes From Trauma or Irritants

When you first get home from the cataract surgery, you will probably feel as if something is in your eye. It will almost feel like an eyelash or something like that. For about a week following the surgery, your eyes are going to extra-sensitive. Therefore, you need to consider wearing a pair of wraparound sunglasses that will protect your eyes from the elements, such as dirt, dust, pollen, etc. These glasses will also protect your eyes from the light, as your eyes are going to be sensitive to sunlight as well. Your surgeon will give you an eye shield that you can wear throughout the night to keep you from rubbing or touching your eyes.

Avoid Getting Behind the Wheel

You will be unable to drive after the surgical procedure. In regard to how long you should avoid driving, this will depend on your individual healing and recovery. When you do begin driving, though, you will want to wear sunglasses to help keep all of the light from entering the affected eye until it has had a chance to fully heal.

For more information on what steps you need to take to recover from cataract surgery or to ask any questions you may have regarding the surgical procedure, reach out to your eye doctor. They can provide more information about cataract surgery.

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