How To Clean Eyes After Cataract Surgery?

It is highly common to have vision loss due to the development of cataracts in your eye. Fortunately, cataract surgeries restore your poor vision effectively. It is a safe, frequently performed, and painless procedure. It replaces the clouded lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOLs), to restore your vision without the risk of cataracts returning in the future. Post the surgery, you will be able to lead a better life with the visual clarity that you have longed for years. However, you need to be careful of giving yourself adequate time to recover while following the post-operative recommendations suggested by your eye surgeon. You strictly have to follow certain precautions for the well-being of your eyes. Post-surgery, it is essential to protect your eyes from dust and dirt to promote faster recovery. You must also clean your eyes thoroughly, to avoid creating an environment for the bacteria to grow and cause more infections and other postoperative complications.

Let’s explore the right ways and methods to clean your eyes after a cataract surgery.

What Is Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery is done to remove the diseased or clouded lens of your eye and replace it with a new artificial lens, known as an intraocular lens (IOL). Cataracts develop commonly due to aging. However, they may also develop due to other conditions such as trauma, excessive exposure to UV rays, diabetes, and high blood pressure, or long-term use of medications like steroids, sedatives, anticonvulsants, etc.

Blurred vision, faded colors, double vision in the affected eye, halo surrounding the lights, and visual impairment are some of the symptoms experienced due to cataracts.

It takes around 4 to 6 weeks to recover after cataract surgery completely. Meanwhile, there are some important post-operative instructions that you must follow. These ensure the risk of side effects is reduced, and the vision is restored quickly.

Among several reminders, cleaning your eyes after cataract surgery plays a vital role in healing and faster recovery.

How To Clean Your Eyes After Cataract Surgery?

Cleaning your eyes is important to maintain good hygiene and to help give you smoother and faster recovery time. The cleaning process is normally recommended and should be repeated at least twice a day during the first two weeks after the cataract procedure. Following the steps below for thorough and effective cleaning of your operated eye:

• Before you start cleaning your eye,

• • Wash your hands thoroughly before you touch or handle your eye, since any bacteria present in your hands can be accidentally transferred to your operated eye. This may cause an eye infection.
  • Position yourself comfortably while supporting your head.
  • Ensure the place you are sitting has good lighting.

Materials required:

1. Sterile gauze swabs or cotton balls.
2. Boiled and cooled water.
3. Sterile pot to pour the boiled water.

• Cleaning the eyelashes

• • Take the gauze swab or cotton ball, and dip it in the boiled and cooled water.
  • Squeeze and remove the excess water – you should not let water enter your operated eye.
  • Hold your operated eye and gently place the swab/cotton ball on your eyelashes.
  • Clean the eyelash in one direction- from inner to the outer canthus (inside to outside).
  • Dispose off the gauze swab/cotton ball.

• Cleaning the lower eyelid

• • Gently look up.
  • Take a swab/cotton ball and dip it in the water, squeeze the extra water.
  • With the other index finger, gently pull down your lower eyelid.
  • Clean the lower eyelid margin from the inner to the outer canthus.
  • Dispose off the swab/cotton ball.

• Cleaning the upper eyelid

• • Extra care has to be taken while cleaning the upper eyelid. Make sure the cornea is in view and avoid touching it with the swab.
  • You need to look down and with one hand, take the swab and moisten it with the water solution.
  • Use your thumb of the other hand to gently ease the upper eyelid up against the rim (situated just below the eyebrow).
  • Do not put pressure on the eyeball.
  • Using the swab, gently clean along the upper eyelid margin in one movement, inner to the outer canthus.
  • Discard the swab after use.
  • If the eyelids are sticky, repeat the above steps until all the debris and discharge has been removed. 
  • You need to discard the unused water solution at the end.

You can also have someone help you clean your eyes if you cannot do so.

Precautions To Be Taken While Cleaning The Eye

• Wash your hands thoroughly before you start cleaning your eyes, especially if you are using a hand wash as this can accidentally get into your operated eye and cause irritation and itching.
• Do not splash water directly into the operated eye.
• Do not reuse the swabs or cotton balls.
• Do not rub the eyes with the swab.
• Do not put unnecessary pressure on the operated eye.
• Do not use hot water to clean as it may cause burn to the eyes. Boil and let it cool down before cleaning the eye.

Precautions to the Eye After Cataract Surgery

It is imperative to follow the post-op instructions given by your surgeon to promote improved healing of the eye and faster recovery. Proper after-care is important to prevent infections and other post-surgical complications.

• Use a protective eye shield to avoid injury to your operated eye. It also protects against accidental rubbing of your eye while sleeping.
• Apply your eye drops regularly, as prescribed by your eye surgeon for healing and avoiding any infections. Your surgeon will prescribe you antibiotics, steroids, and lubricating drops to ease the initial swelling, irritation, and pain that occurs 3-5 days after surgery.
• Do not wash your face or have a head bath for at least 10 days to 2 weeks to avoid water entering the operated eye and causing infections.
• Do not go swimming for 4 to 6 weeks following cataract surgery as chlorine water will enter your eyes and cause infections.
• Avoid cooking for at least 2 weeks after the surgery. Steam can harm your new lens and damage it.
• Do not lift heavy objects, as this may strain your operated eye unnecessarily.

Takeaway

Cataract surgeries help to restore your vision by implanting a new intraocular lens (IOL). Hygiene is important to ward off infections and other unwanted post-op complications following cataract surgery. Keeping your eye clean is crucial to your healing and recovery process. Our experienced eye doctors at Medfin know what’s best for you and your cataract. We’re looking forward to guiding you through.

Also Check: Cost of Cataract treatment in Bangalore

Best cataract surgeon in bangalore

Disclaimer: 

The content on this site is the copyright of Medfin and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered as a substitute for medical and surgical expertise. Results from any treatments or surgeries are subjective to an individual patient and the type of procedure/ surgery performed. Please seek professional help regarding any medical concerns. Medfin will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.