How to Help Someone Recover After Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is a corrective eye procedure that fixes cloudy and blurred vision. It's not a serious medical situation, but surgery on an eye can be difficult for some people to cope with. You should know how to help someone recover from cataract surgery and hopefully speed the process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Help Someone Recover After Cataract Surgery

1. Help out with driving. Your friend or family member will not be able to drive home from cataract surgery. Not only will your friend have eye patch over one eye, he'll probably be drowsy from his anesthesia. You might have to drive him back to the eye doctor the next day for his follow up appointment. Usually, cataract surgery patients are able to drive again within 48 hours of their operation, but make yourself available for several days just in case.
2. Do any heavy lifting for your friend. She should not be picking up anything over 20 lbs, as this can relay too much stress to her healing eye. She probably won't need to lift too many things, but help her move the TV into her bedroom if she wants to lie in bed and watch it.
3. Give your friend a hand with the eye drop medication. If your friend has never had to use eye drops, he might have trouble holding his eye open and putting drops in. He could hold his eyelids back while you put drops in, just be sure you put the right amount in.
4. Provide some emotional support for your friend. She might be feeling a little depressed after surgery, either from the sedatives or from the stress associated with an eye operation. You might want to remind her that after her recovery she'll be able to see clearly again.
5. Help your friend around the house. During the first 1 to 2 days after surgery while he's wearing an eye patch, it might be difficult for your buddy to get around. He's probably not accustomed to a lack of depth perception. You might not need to help him move around, but consider cooking for him.

Tips & Warnings

• Listen carefully to the surgeon's instructions after your friend gets out of surgery. You need to be sure that your help doesn't conflict with the surgeon's orders.
• Be aware that it might take a month for your friend's eye to fully recover, so try to be helpful until the doctor says he's fine.
• Be sure you know what complications and side effects to watch for. You'll want to know when to call someone if your friend acts strange or complains of certain symptoms, like severe eye pain and headaches.