Post-Operative Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. When can I drive my car after surgery? Once your vision is back within the legal requirements for driving in Australia, and you feel confident, you can return to driving. Generally the day after your second eye surgery.

2. Can I rub my eyes? Avoid rubbing the eyes for one week, and excessive rubbing can cause other problems. Some tenderness and mild watery after surgery is normal and will settle in time.

 

3. When can I wash my hair? It is best to wait two days after surgery before washing your hair.

4. When can I dye my hair? Generally we recommend waiting one week after surgery before you dye your hair.

5. When can I wear eye make-up? One week after each eye surgery.

6. When can I go swimming? It is best to wait two weeks until returning to swimming.

7. How long before I stop the drops? You should taper the use of the eye drops, slowly reducing their use over a period of 26 days. See “Eye Drops After Surgery”. Do not continue use of drops after 28 days.

8. Do I need to stop my warfarin before surgery? No, but the preadmission nurse will discuss this with you prior to surgery.

9. When do I return to my glaucoma drops? Generally you will stay off your Glaucoma drops until your final review 1 month after your surgery.

10. I use lubrication drops, when do I need to stop them, and can I return to them? Any pre-existing dry eye symptoms will be present after cataract surgery. The medicated eye drops used offer some lubrication, however you can use your normal lubrication drops between the doses, and as often as necessary after the eye heals.

11. When can I get new spectacles for reading? At one month post operatively.

12. Will my cataracts grow back? No, but sometimes a membrane can grow behind the new lens and effect the vision. See “Complications of Surgery – Posterior Capsular Fibrosis”

13. How long do I need to leave my contact lenses out before my consult with Dr Troski? If you wear hard contact lenses you will need to leave them out for one month, and soft contact lenses at least one week. If you are unsure call Dr Troski’s staff to discuss.

14. When can I return to the gym? Pilates? Yoga? No heavy lifting or strenuous activities for one week after each eye, and no hanging up-side down for 2 weeks. Should you experience any pain or discomfort then ease back into these activities more slowly.

15. When can I return to work? Generally within a few days.

16. When can I play golf, tennis, bowls etc? Activities that include leaning over to pick items up should be avoided for one week.

17. How long before I can fly? One week after surgery.

18. Do I need to wear an eye patch after surgery? Generally not, but if you feel you may want to inadvertently rub, scratch etc the eye then you can place a shield over the eye for as long as is required.

19. How long does then lens last? The IOL will not need to be replaced in your lifetime.

20. Can I have a general anesthetic for the surgery? You will be given sedation for surgery. You are not asleep, but you will generally have little memory of the experience. You anesthetist will discuss this further.

21. Sometimes I see floaters in my vision, is this normal? Floaters are a common situation both before and after cataract surgery. They can be more prominent after cataract surgery when more light enters the eye.

22.  I have stopped my drops and my eye is red and uncomfortable? The eye can become accustomed to the medicated eye drops controlling the level of redness after surgery. When the drops stop sometimes redness, pain, irritation can return. This is called “Rebound Hyperemia” and it is best to contact Dr Troski’s rooms for further advice if this occurs.

 

23. I feel like there is a shadow at the side of my vision? A common effect of having a new lens place in the eye is what we call the "edge effect". The new lens implanted into the eye is slightly smaller than the human lens. In certain conditions light will reflect off the edge of this new smaller lens causing a shadow or blinker effect. This tends to resolve slowly over time as the brain reprograms to the new lens.

 

24. What is Posterior Capsular Fibrosis? About 10% of patients can have some wrinkles that can form in the human tissue that holds the lens in the eye. This is very easy to treat with a brief and painless laser procedure. This can be performed by Dr Troski one month after surgery onwards. After treatment there are often noticeable floaters that disappear within one to two weeks.