Healthy Eyes, Healthy You

If you have cataracts, your eye doctor is likely to recommend cataract surgery. You may be concerned about your recovery. However, there is no need to worry because cataract surgery is easy to recover from as long as you follow a few guidelines. Still, it is understandable that you are apprehensive about it. The following are some tips that will help set you on the path to a full recovery.

How Long Will It Take to Recover?

The recovery time for your cataract surgery will be short. You can expect to be fully recovered in a month or a month and a half. If you are feeling any soreness, you can expect it to disappear in a few days. How long you take to recover is highly dependent on the size and the structure of the cataracts and your overall health and age.

Your Routine Will Have to Change

Bear in mind that you will not be able to do any housework for a few weeks. Your doctor will bar you from lifting and bending after your surgery. You will also have to take a break from exercising until you are fully recovered; this means that activities such as jogging, running, and swimming are off-limits. If you usually cook your own meals, you should pre-cook and freeze your meals before surgery. You can also order food during your recovery period.

Keep in Touch With Your Doctor

Your doctor will schedule post-operation appointments to take a look at how your eye is healing. You need to ensure that you go to each of these appointments. If eyedrops have been prescribed, make sure that you take them exactly as prescribed. Get someone to help you if you are afraid you will make a mistake. Pay careful attention to whether or not you are having increased pain, discharge from the eye, or flashes of light in your vision. All of this signals that something is wrong. The bottom line is that if your eyesight starts getting worse a few weeks after surgery, then it is time to contact your doctor.

Cataract surgery can restore your vision and your independence. However, before you embark on this journey, you need to prepare yourself for the recovery process. Once you take all the necessary precautions following surgery and notify your doctor should anything abnormal happen, you will be well on your way to making a speedy recovery.