What can my dad expect after having an eye surgery?

[DodgerGirl]

Next month Dad is gonna have eye surgery to remove cataracts and it will be an outpatient surgery done at his eye doctor and I would like to know what Dad can expect to do after his eye surgery? Will Dad have to wear an eyepatch and put eye drops every hour and at night? And another thing I would like to know is will Dad need special eyeglasses once he recovers from the eye surgery because he has been needing new eyeglasses for quite sometime

 

[Marrila]

They will give your dad very specific instructions about using an eye cover and an eye drop schedule.
We used paper and pencil to keep track of the drops each day.
Your dad may need regular prescription eyeglasses after his recovery period. The eye doctor will check and write a prescription if needed.

 

[DodgerGirl]

They will give your dad very specific instructions about using an eye cover and an eye drop schedule.
We used paper and pencil to keep track of the drops each day.
Your dad may need regular prescription eyeglasses after his recovery period. The eye doctor will check and write a prescription if needed.

So Dad will have to wear an eye cover after his eye surgery? And will Dad still be able to do regular activities while in recovery too? And what side effects will Dad experience? Like headaches and blurred vision?
Thanks so much for the helpful info Marrila
Dodger

 

[Marrila]

So Dad will have to wear an eye cover after his eye surgery? And will Dad still be able to do regular activities while in recovery too? And what side effects will Dad experience? Like headaches and blurred vision?
Thanks so much for the helpful info Marrila
Dodger

Dodger,
Happy to help, but your Dad's eye doctor will give specific written instructions about do's and don'ts. (Along with the eye drop schedule.)
My husband had his first eye done, and then about two weeks later the second.
Your dad's vision will likely improve during the recovery stage. Even so, he may need glasses.
But the great news is the cataracts will be gone.

 

[Lewisc]

Different doctors have Different drop protocols. I haven't heard of anyone being instructed to set an alarm and take drops overnight.

The surgical coordinator will explain everything.

Some of the drop are expensive and might not be covered by insurance. The doctor might be willing to prescribe alternative drops. Some practices suggest using a specific pharmacy. It might benefit you.

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, there will be drops. Quite possibly 2 or 3 different kinds. And the doctor will provide specific instructions for when to do the drops. It will likely vary with a tapered-down schedule -- meaning several times a day at first and then after a week or so only once a day.

As to activity -- that may depend on his regular activities. The doctor will let him know what's allowed or not allowed, but probably nothing strenuous. He should have a good pair of sunglasses to wear when outside.

If your dad wears glasses, he may find the glasses aren't right for him anymore. It's particularly challenging during the recovery because the doctor won't give a new prescription for new glasses until after both eyes have recovered. My DH only uses drug-store readers now. My dad ended up with basically plain glass in his glasses (that he'd worn full-time since he was a kid).

 

[Lewisc]

If your dad wears glasses, he may find the glasses aren't right for him anymore

Probably, almost certainly not the same script. Sometimes a doctor will tell you to remove one lens from your glasses after that eye is done.

Edited

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

You need to discuss that with his doctor because everyone has different aftercare.

From my experience. You may wear a plastic shield for the first 24 hours and then maybe at night for a little bit.
Eye drops a few times a day for a little bit.
Often times you'll no longer need glasses for distance but may need reading glasses.

I'm sure a packet of info was or will be given.

 

[MICKIMINI]

My cataract surgery (1 eye) was easy and painless. Follow directions for taking drops. I do not remember having a patch on my eye for that surgery. Within 24 hours my vision was really good.

I had surgery for a detached retina less than a year later (same eye). That was an hour long surgery. I had to wear a patch for quite some time. I took drops. I had to sleep on one side (not turn over at night) and was told not to pick up anything heavy or bend over. That was weeks. It was a much more involved surgery with more follow ups. I am grateful for the surgeons that saved my vision.

Cataract surgery was a breeze comparing the two. I needed new prescription glasses after both surgeries.

Good luck!

 

[Debbie Jean]

Before cataract surgery I was severely near sighted so the time between left and right surgeries was my biggest challenge. Wore a patch over one eye till the second was done and that solved the problem.

I have glaucoma so eye drops are a part of my life in any event… hardly noticed the extras. My results were extraordinary… perfect distance vision, just need readers. It has been absolutely life altering!

Best wishes for your father’s surgery… with a completely uneventful recovery!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Agree with the above posts - this is a conversation required with the doctor, not us. Different doctors handle things a little differently, based on the circumstances. I had both eyes done about 4 months apart years ago, and I definitely did a patch to protect the eye after the surgery for several days, and also did the drops. I also went from wearing glasses to not needing them after, so the time between surgeries was challenging! But the results were amazing.

 

[lanejudy]

I will add... the only real negative my husband experienced after his cataract surgery was the development of diabetic retinopathy. However, I assume that condition was already in progress and the disruption to the eye from the cataract surgery simply brought the issue to light in the early stages. It's actually good because it was found early and treated successfully.

So ANY problems he experiences after the surgery be sure he calls the office.