Post-Phacoemulsification Surgery — Patient Precautions

🛡️ Eye Protection

• Wear the protective eye shield at all times while sleeping (including naps) for at least 1 week to prevent accidental rubbing or pressure during sleep.
• Wear UV-protective sunglasses on bright days — this may be recommended for up to a year post-surgery.
• Do not rub or press on the operated eye under any circumstances.
• Avoid dusty, windy, smoky, or pollen-heavy environments, as these irritate the healing eye.

🚗 Travel

• Do not drive on the day of surgery. Wait until the next day at minimum; consult your surgeon before resuming driving, especially if only one eye has been operated on (depth perception may be affected).
• Air travel: Generally permitted after the first post-op check (usually day 1), but discuss with your surgeon — any sudden pressure changes or turbulence are usually well tolerated. Carry prescribed eye drops in hand luggage.
• Long-distance travel in the first 1–2 weeks should be avoided when possible, as it delays follow-up visits and means emergency care may not be accessible.
• Avoid dusty, rural, or resource-limited environments in the first month due to infection risk.

🍽️ Food & Diet

• There are no strict dietary restrictions specific to phacoemulsification, but optimal nutrition supports healing:
  • Favour: Lean proteins, leafy green vegetables, antioxidant-rich foods (carrots, spinach, blueberries), omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Avoid: Foods high in refined sugars and carbohydrates — these spike blood glucose and can damage ocular blood vessels, slowing healing.
  • Avoid: Processed and junk foods during the recovery period.
• Patients with diabetes must maintain strict blood glucose control, as poor glycaemic control significantly increases infection risk and impairs wound healing.
• Alcohol: No absolute prohibition, but avoid excess as it can increase bleeding tendency and interfere with medications.

💧 Hygiene & Water Exposure

• Do not splash water directly on the face for at least 1 week. Use a damp washcloth instead, keeping eyes closed.
• No swimming, hot tubs, or water sports for at least 2–4 weeks — poolwater and natural water bodies carry bacteria that can cause serious infections (endophthalmitis).
• Avoid getting shampoo, soap, or face cream near the operated eye.
• You may shower the day after surgery, but keep the water stream away from the eye.

🏋️ Physical Activity

• Do not bend with your head below waist level for the first 48 hours — this raises intraocular pressure and can interfere with wound healing.
• Avoid straining at stool (use stool softeners if needed) or vigorous coughing/sneezing in the first 48 hours.

💊 Medications & Eye Drops

• Use prescribed antibiotic and steroid eye drops exactly as directed — do not skip doses or stop early.
• Do not use over-the-counter eye drops unless approved by your surgeon.
• Avoid warm compresses, lid scrubs, and blepharitis/dry eye treatments for at least 1 week (these can introduce bacteria and cause pressure on the eye).
• Do not use eye makeup (mascara, eyeliner) for at least 1 week.

🚨 Warning Signs — Seek Immediate Care If You Notice:

• Sudden loss of vision or significant worsening of vision
• Severe eye pain not controlled by simple analgesia
• Increasing redness, swelling, or discharge
• Flashes of light or new floaters (may indicate retinal detachment)
• Nausea and vomiting (may signal raised intraocular pressure)

📅 Follow-Up

• Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments — typically at day 1, week 1, and week 4–6.
• Bring a list of all current medications to each visit.
• Full structural healing takes approximately 4–6 weeks; vision may continue to stabilize during this time.