Unlike a few decades ago, the trauma that follows eye surgery is minimal. It is a testament to the progress that has been made in technology and surgical techniques. A cataract operation, for example, takes only around 20 minutes to complete per eye, with a patient typically walking out of the eye hospital an hour later to begin their recovery at home.
The idea that eye surgery is no longer a big deal is perhaps not accurate, since the eyes remain crucial organs. However, the precision with which the procedure is conducted has made it safe and exceptionally efficient. In truth cataract removal is no longer a complex operation.
For those considering the procedure, there is often surprise that recovery can be accomplished at home, with a return to work permitted perhaps as soon as the day following the procedure. But this is not to say that there is no cataract surgery aftercare service to avail of. The fact is that there is no need for a patient to lie in a hospital bed while recovering.
What is important to note, however, is that returning home after surgery is only one part of the recovery process, which can last as long as six weeks. The surgeons simply trust the patients to take extra special care as they go through the process from start to finish.
Independent Recovery
Once the surgical procedure is complete, just 20 minutes after lying down on the operating table, the patient is allowed to rest in a recovery suite in the eye hospital itself. A local anesthetic is applied before the procedure in the form eye drops, so everything is done with the patient conscious, but there is no pain whatsoever.
The surgeon will make a visit to the suite after the procedure, but in essence, recovery can begin independently, with some simple instructions provided before the patient goes home.
For a few hours after surgery, vision is blurred, and it is important to protect the eye from wind, rain and strong light. Wearing a pair of sunglasses is all that is needed.
The first night will require a quiet, stress free time. Preferably, computer screens and books, anything that might cause the eye to work hard, should be avoided, though watching TV from a distance is generally permitted. The best thing to do is listen to music with closed eyes, or even sleep.
The next day, the vision will have improved though may still be a little blurred, but after about three days, sight will have improved beyond pre surgery quality. This is when patients realise they really do not need their glasses any more.
Follow Up Consultation
This is a crucial part of the recovery period. The post surgery consultation is usually arranged for a week after the procedure. At this time, the surgeon will examine how the eye has reacted to the new lens, how the flap in the cornea has healed, and if there is any infection or swelling.
Of course, what is crucial is that the consultant that carries out the follow up is the same that carried out the pre surgery consultation and procedure itself. Consistency is essential as it is important not to allow any information to fall through the cracks. It also ensures the highest level of confidence is maintained by the patient.
At the follow up, it may be deemed necessary to carry out some extra procedures. The new lens may cloud up, requiring a simple laser treatment that can be done in minutes. There may also be a slight possibility of an issue with the position of the lens, with a minority of cases seeing the lens slip out of place.
Aftercare Services
Of course, there must be proper cataract surgery aftercare provided, just as any surgery needs aftercare services. It should be expected that the eye hospital provide a 24 hour emergency number to patients, so that if anything should go wrong, they will have a direct line to the experts. A sudden accident like slipping on the stairs, for example, could cause a serious problem, especially in the few days immediately following cataract removal.
Being just a call away, being able to receive advice and, perhaps most importantly, being able to receive emergency treatment if necessary, is the kind of help every patient expects. In the main, however, recovery from a cataract operation can be achieved independently.