topic Re: Cataract Removal Questions in Wellness

Cataract Removal Questions

Reva — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:57:06 GMT

I'm scheduled for cataract removal in May and have a few questions for those of you who have been through it. How long before you can actually rub your eyes? My dr. said try to keep water out of eyes, be careful washing hair, need to sleep with eye patch for 2 weeks, no heavy lifting for 2 weeks.
I totally forgot to ask how long to wait before wearing eye makeup! A friend of mine said she wore eye makeup the next day and had no eye patch at all. I'll also have an IOL implanted to give me good distance vision but will need glasses for reading. I'd love to hear others restrictions after their procedures, especially if you had it done recently. TIA in advance! Reva

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Dragonflyveb — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:31:45 GMT

hi,

I had my cataracts removed, vision and astigmatism corrected about 18 months ago. You will be amazed at how different colors will look! I was shocked at how blue the sky was after the cataracts were gone. Fire trucks were redder, it's pretty amazing.

The surgery was fast and painless, just some bright lights flashing.

I did wear polarized sunglasses home. They told me not to rub my eyes for 2 weeks after surgery. No eye patch, no warning about showering. Right after getting home, my vision was fuzzy, but cleared by the next day. I had my second surgery a week later.

The biggest thing for me now is wearing polarized sunglasses outside because the plastic lens can't adjust to light. But the clear vision and beautiful colors are SO worth it!

Good luck for your procedure

dragonfly

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

tansy — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:38:08 GMT

I was told to wear the patch for two to three nights. I did not wear eye makeup until I had my final eye check.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Carmie — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:41:56 GMT

I had both eyes done by different doctors many years apart. Right eye wore eye protector to sleep for a few nights and right after surgery for first 24 hours. Left eye, done recently, no eye patch at all to come home or during sleep.

No lifting heavy objects, swimming, or getting water in eye for two weeks....both eyes.

Compounded eye drops for four weeks for both eye surgeries.

I don't wear eye make-up so don't remember how long to wait, but make-up has lots of bacteria, so you don't want to get an infection.

My MIL got an infection after cataract surgery and It was awful. I wouldn't want to play around and take chances.

The surgery is painless and you will be thrilled with your new eye sight. It is 100% worth it. Just follow your doctor's instructions.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Love my grandkids — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:08:13 GMT

I had mine done about 13 years ago. The "patch" was more like a guard, not a traditional patch.

Re: Cataract Removal QuestionsE

Desertdi — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:52:58 GMT

EVERY person heals differently. Also, your eyes are NOT "twins" -- They are sisters.

My right eye was nearly perfect after 3 days...the left one took 3 WEEKS before I could see clearly.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Desertdi — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:02:46 GMT

I am allergic to adhesive...YES, all kinds, even the hypoallergenic... So, I took the plastic thingie OFF, and was VERY CAREFUL...

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

CalminHeart — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:00:03 GMT

@Reva wrote:
I'm scheduled for cataract removal in May and have a few questions for those of you who have been through it. How long before you can actually rub your eyes? My dr. said try to keep water out of eyes, be careful washing hair, need to sleep with eye patch for 2 weeks, no heavy lifting for 2 weeks.
I totally forgot to ask how long to wait before wearing eye makeup! A friend of mine said she wore eye makeup the next day and had no eye patch at all. I'll also have an IOL implanted to give me good distance vision but will need glasses for reading. I'd love to hear others restrictions after their procedures, especially if you had it done recently. TIA in advance! Reva

Ask your doctor about rubbing your eyes and makeup.

My experience:

I would not recommend makeup until your eyes heal. You just had eye surgery and would hate to get an infection. My vision is more important than makeup.

You'll also have antibiotic drops. You'll have to go back to the doctor a week or so later so ask about makeup then. It's not life changing to go without eye makeup for a week.

How vision stays or changes after cataract surgery is different for each person. I still wear lineless bifocal glasses. I can watch tv or something like that without glasses but need them for driving and reading.

I just closed my eyes when washing my face and hair and didn't have any problems.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Major Shopper — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:23:10 GMT

@Reva I had each of my eyes done about 5 years ago, 2 weeks apart.

I agree with everyone here. You will be amazed at what you have been missing when you see the difference post-surgery!

I came here to let you know that they will probably tape a plastic eye shield over the surgical eye. The tape may cover your EYEBROW. Please be careful when removing the shield. They have a tendency to "rip" off the tape and take eyebrow hairs with it!

Just an FYI.

Do not worry or be afraid of the surgery. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Best of luck!

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

wagirl — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:29:57 GMT

This is a very timely post for me--have an appointment to check out my cataracts as my optometrist said mine are "ripe". Going at the end of this month.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Reva — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:32:53 GMT

A big thank you to all the responders on my questions! As always, you have been so helpful and encouraging! I'm not worried as my eye surgeon pioneered this procedure in WNY and he and his father are well respected in our area. They are also the eye surgeons for our Buffalo Bills...Go Bills! I'm looking forward to getting it done and will post afterwards. Again...thank you to all who have posted and to all who may continue to post their results! Reva

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Reva — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:37:28 GMT

@wagirl wrote:
This is a very timely post for me--have an appointment to check out my cataracts as my optometrist said mine are "ripe". Going at the end of this month.

Best of luck to you @wagirl...I'm so looking forward to getting mine done in May. Reva

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

ID2 — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:43:15 GMT

I had both my eyes done 2 years ago. The first one was horrible. I had to have a stitch put in (for a few days) and it REALLY hurt. I cried all the way home. My second one was uneventful. I had dropless cataract surgery. I hear having to put multiple drops in a day is a pain. But I had none of that. Since I have diabetic retinopathy having cataract surgery was quite an production! I had extreme blurriness for weeks after. But once I then had treatments from my Ophthalmologist everything went back to normal. I know I know I have extenuating circumstances but all in all, if I had known then how my recovery actually was, I really think I would never have had it done.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Kitty Galore — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:52:56 GMT

had mine done a month apart 20 yrs ago at a young age . They were congenital so riped at a young age . I had the multi focal lens to see near , far and mid . My distance vision is good , mid good , and only left eye good for close. The lens also has a built in filter to cut down on the sun so I don't really need sun glasses but I find I'm still sensitive to sunlight as I was before . My dr said it's because light eyes just are more sensitive to sunlight , I have green eyes.

i wore a patch more like an eye guard for 3 nights , no water in my eyes for a week and no eye makeup until my follow up . The no water he told me is because water has bacteria in it and normally it causes no problems but after eye surgery it could cause infection.

good luck to you ! You will be thrilled with how vibrant color is afterwards !

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Still Raining — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:17:00 GMT

Don't worry, you will be fine. Biggest nothing burger you can have. The morning after my second I drove myself to the checkup.

Two things can help: set the alarms on your phone to remind you about the drops - cover your eyes with a jumbo shower cap to shower, just be blind for a bit.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

SouthernBee — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:46:23 GMT

@Reva : I have appointment in April to discuss cataract surgery. I have a lot of questions and making a list for my doctor.I can't lay flat because of back problems and Gerd. The gerd makes me cough if laying flat. Getting older has made me very nervous and anxiety with any medical procedure.

Praying that you will have a quick and easy healing.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Shelbelle — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 20:21:18 GMT

I had mine done 3 months apart 2 years ago, my doc didnt give me a ton of instructions, so I just used good common sense for a lot of it. I didnt wear the shield to bed as I was allergic to the tape, I just was very careful to sleep on the other side for 2 weeks. I wore minimal eye makeup 3 days after the surgery and left off mascara for 10 days. I washed my hair on the 5th day and was careful washing my face. I used the Compounded drops, highly recommend. I had my eyes numbed and used no other type of anesthesia, I just remained very relaxed, and still and all went quite well. Easy as pie !!!

I was not told no heavy lifting so I guess I just did my normal routine in that respect. Using common sense should work fine for you. Best part is that the next day you can see again !!!

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Q-Checker — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 20:40:37 GMT

@Reva - Nomatter how well intentioned your question and the responses, the ONLY medical advice you need is from your surgeon! Your eyes and surgical procedure may be very different from those who posted. There is a reason why eye surgeons go to medical school, then intern, and then do a residency in opthalmology. All of this takes years of study and for good reason.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

conlt — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 22:38:54 GMT

I wish you good luck with your surgery. I will be getting my cataracts out in the future but they are not ready yet. I had eye surgery to remove a lesion a couple of years ago, the surgery went alright, I did not feel it.

I was warned not to rub my eye. I did wear an eye shield and was happy to do it for fear I may rub my eye at night. I was told not to get the eye wet. I used facial wipes to wash my face and bought a pair of swim goggles to wear when I washed my hair. That worked pretty well.

Re: Cataract Removal Questions

Reva — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 11:46:59 GMT

@SouthernBee wrote:
@Reva : I have appointment in April to discuss cataract surgery. I have a lot of questions and making a list for my doctor.I can't lay flat because of back problems and Gerd. The gerd makes me cough if laying flat. Getting older has made me very nervous and anxiety with any medical procedure.
Praying that you will have a quick and easy healing.

Thank you so much...I will do the same for you!