What Is the Recovery Time After Glaucoma Surgery?
After having surgery for glaucoma, it’s essential to avoid activities that could increase the risk of infection or cause permanent eye damage, including bending over, straining, lifting heavy objects, and swimming pools, hot tubs, or saunas. As itching or blurriness are often side effects after surgery for glaucoma, it’s wise to refrain from rubbing your eyes too harshly. Additionally, ensure you take all prescribed eye drops according to instructions from your physician. Normally, Glaucoma surgery takes 3 days to a week for recovery, but here are some tips to speed up the procedure.
Take It Easy & Get Proper Rest
Rest is key, and having someone drive you home from the hospital would be wise, as initial blurriness may be completely normal.
Blurry vision may persist from one day to six weeks following surgery, depending on its severity. Prescription eye drops make managing pain and inflammation simple.
Avoid activities requiring bending over or lifting heavy objects until instructed by your physician, and make sure shampoo, soap, hair spray, and shaving lotion don’t enter your eyes.
While returning too early after an injury or surgery may tempt you, doing so too soon can increase the risk of reinjury or undoing its benefits. Follow your doctor’s orders regarding physical activity (e.g., avoid strenuous activity like heavy lifting).
If necessary, request more time off work from your employer and arrange assistance from family and friends for errands and tasks that arise from this time off work.
Don't Rub Your Eyes
Although you may feel inclined to rub your eyes when irritated and itchy, this can exacerbate your condition and reduce vision clarity. Instead, use all prescribed eye drops to prevent infection and alleviate itching. Left untreated, glaucoma can result in permanent vision loss due to too much eye pressure, causing optic nerve damage and leading to permanent blindness.
Avoid getting soap or shampoo in your eye by showering with your head turned the other way, using boiled water to clean your face, or showering in an inverted position. Furthermore, swimming pools, saunas, and hot tubs could contain bacteria that could enter your eyes through their water sources.
Avoid Swimming & Going into a Pool
Based on the type of laser surgery and their benefits, it is usually best to avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, and other environments where bacteria could enter your eye. Furthermore, some doctors advise against strenuous exercise because its sudden increases in heart rate could irritate healing tissues.
Remind your loved one daily to use their prescribed eye drops, especially those living with MIGS who must take multiple types of medications each day. Set alarms or send out reminders as a way of reminding them. This is especially important as multiple medication forms must be taken daily for effective management.
Stay Away From Bright Lights
After surgery, your eyes will likely be sensitive and swollen, making them even more susceptible to bright light irritations. As prescribed, continue using antibiotic and steroid drops until they have their desired effects.
Follow-up appointments should also be scheduled to check for signs of infection or pressure increase in the operated eye, ensuring it heals properly and remains healthy in the long run. Be sure to get enough restful sleep and prioritize resting to foster healing.
Always Let Someone Else Drive
Be mindful to seek medical advice before driving and attend all follow-up appointments as scheduled. Vision can often become blurry and itchy after surgery for glaucoma, making rubbing your eyes an appealing solution. Unfortunately, this could lead to complications.
Report any changes in sleep or pain and symptoms of infection immediately to your ophthalmologist for quick recovery. Learn more about Glaucoma treatment and consultation services today by reaching out!
Avoid Wearing Face Makeup
Wearing makeup may irritate the eyes and increase the risk of infection, so use a moisturizer around them rather than applying any directly near surgery sites. Take special care when showering to avoid shampoo, soap, or hairspray entering your eyes directly.
Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments, as this helps ensure a successful glaucoma surgery techniques. Contact your physician if any sudden or significant changes appear in pain, vision, or discharge; these could be early indicators of potential complications that need urgent medical attention.
Use Prescribed Medications
If eye drops and medicines for glaucoma surgery fail to reduce intraocular pressure, surgery may be the next step. There are various types of glaucoma surgery procedures, but most involve redirecting fluid or installing an implant to drain away fluid from your eyeballs and lower intraocular pressure.
Establish a routine with your loved one that ensures they take their eye drops as instructed and schedule follow-up appointments to monitor compliance with their treatment plan and prevent permanent vision loss. This is imperative to the eye health of their vision.
Use Eye Cover While Sleeping
Sleeping with your eyes open can cause significant eye damage. Your eye doctor can place a shield or patch over the operated eye to protect it and avoid accidental rub and scratch injury. This measure is significant for individuals who often rub or scratch their eyes.
Don't Drink Alcohol, & Use Sufficient Water
Although we turn most patients away on the day of a procedure for drinking too much alcohol, alcohol should never be used as a means to mask painkillers and antibiotics prescribed by your consultant.
Alcohol also thins your blood, making it more difficult to control bleeding during surgery and prolonging the recovery period.
After your eye surgery, you must consume ample water and eat a nutritious diet free from processed food to speed up healing. If you have questions about how best to proceed or the next healing steps, contact our glaucoma specialist immediately!
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Conclusion
Recovering from glaucoma surgery requires careful attention to your eye health and adherence to medical advice to ensure optimal healing and avoid complications. Following these guidelines and seeking support from loved ones can promote a smooth recovery and safeguard your vision for the future. If you have any concerns or notice unusual symptoms, promptly contact your ophthalmologist to address them effectively.
Call Bagan Strinden Vision For Glaucoma Surgery
Experience top-quality eye care with Bagan Strinden Vision! From glaucoma treatment and general eye care to eyelid procedures, laser eye surgery, and cataract surgery, we are dedicated to preserving and enhancing your vision. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and see the world more clearly!
