You take the time to worry about your heart and your lungs, so why wouldn't you think about your eye health? If you are like most people, it might be because you don't know that much about how to take care of your eyes. Fortunately, I have been working with other people to teach them about eye health for the past twenty years. My father lost his eyesight because of a few bad decisions, and I don't want to see other people go down that path. Read here to learn why you should exercise, eat right, and see your eye doctor regularly.
Improving Your Eye Health
Cataracts Surgery: Post-Operative Recovery Interventions
James Castro
Cataracts can cause blurred vision, and they may also make vibrant colors seem dim or muted. When the lens of your eye turns opaque or cloudy, it is referred to as a cataract. Conservative treatment options for cataracts include increasing the prescription power of your eyeglasses or contact lenses, however, this option is usually only temporary. For a permanent treatment option, doctors often recommend cataract surgery.
During cataract surgery, the clouded lens of your eye is removed and replaced with an intraocular clear implant. To promote healing, your eye doctor may recommend the following post-operative recovery interventions following your surgery.
Prescription Eye Drops
Before your eye doctor discharges you from the outpatient surgical center or hospital, they will give you a post-operative instruction sheet. Your instruction sheet will detail how to use your prescription eye drops, which may include anti-inflammatory drops to reduce ocular swelling, beta-blocker drops to reduce intraocular pressure, and antibiotic drops to lower your risk for an infection. These prescription eye drops will help enhance the healing process, promote visual acuity, and keep your eye pressure from rising too high.
When post-operative eye pressure spikes, the risk for glaucoma also rises. If you are unable to instill your eye drops on your own, ask a friend or family member to help you because your eye drops are instrumental in the healing process.
Lifestyle Modification Interventions
In addition to your prescription medications, your eye doctor may recommend certain lifestyle modifications to help promote healing while lowering your risk for post-operative complications after your cataract surgery. Your eye doctor will advise you to avoid strenuous exercising, heavy lifting, and bending down while you are healing from your surgery because these activities can raise the pressure behind your eyes.
Your doctor will also tell you to wear your protective eye shield when you are sleeping or participating in activities so that you do not injure the surgical site. You can remove the protective eye shield when you are awake and resting quietly, however. Other lifestyle modification recommendations may include not smoking because smoking can damage the blood vessels inside your eye, hindering optimal circulation and blood flow to the cataract surgical site.
If you experience dull or blurred vision or if one or both of your eyes appears cloudy when looking in the mirror, make an appointment with your eye doctor for a cataract evaluation. When cataracts are recognized and treated quickly, visual acuity will improve so that you can better perform your activities of daily living.
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