Training eyes after cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is a minor procedure, but it still takes 6-8 weeks to fully recover. During this time there are some strategic steps you can take to aid recovery, including some ophthalmologist-recommended eye exercises to help vision recovery.Rest assured that cataract surgery is one of the safest, successful, and most commonly carried out operations in the world, with millions being done each year in the US alone.The following details some of the positive ways you can help retrain your eyes once the op has been done.

What Happens During Cataract Surgery and Why You Need to Train your Eyes

• The surgical procedure
• The need for training eyes after cataract surgery
• Exercises to retrain your eyes

The surgical procedure

When you undergo cataract surgery, the natural lens within the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial one. This is known as an intraocular lens—or an IOL. There are different types of lenses, depending on your requirements. These are:

• Monofocal lenses: that provide focused vision at a single distance
• Multifocal lenses: providing focused vision at different distances, most typically near and far (although some can provide mid-distance focus as well).
• Toric lenses: That treat astigmatism
• Accommodative lenses: These use the muscles of the eye to focus at all distances

A small incision is made in the cornea during cataract surgery. It takes around 8 weeks for this to fully heal, so you will need to take things easy during this time.

The need for training eyes after cataract surgery

You’ll be encouraged to use your eyes as normal within 24 hours of surgery. For the first day, you’ll be given an eye patch to wear, but after this, you’ll only need to wear it while sleeping. This is to prevent you from inadvertently rubbing it.It will take your brain a little while to fully adapt to the clearer vision you’ll benefit from post-surgery. This is why certain eye training can be helpful. The type of lens you’ve had inserted will also determine the level of eye exercises that you might want to do to speed up recovery. However, for many people, the simple act of seeing and focusing at different distances might be all the retraining necessary.Some of the most important post-surgery actions are related to cleanliness and recovery, such as:

• Following instructions to use eye drops
• Not wearing makeup for a few weeks
• Don’t touch your eye
• Not getting water in the eye
• Not carrying or lifting heavy objects for a few weeks
• Refraining from sports for a few weeks

Exercises to retrain your eyes

While it’s not mandatory to carry out exercises to retrain your eyes, many people feel better if they proactively assist in their recovery. The following are some simple exercises that can help retrain the eyes and can be started as soon as 24 hours after the cataract procedure.

• Watching the TV
• Reading
• Shifting your gaze from near to far objects and vice versa
• Tracing the horizon with your eyes
• Carrying out near tasks, such as crosswords, sudoku, word search, etc.

The more advanced the lens you have implanted, the more likely it is that your ophthalmologist will recommend eye exercises. This is because after years of using eyeglasses might have made your eyes a little lazy. Exercises can help speed up the eye-brain link for your best vision in the shortest time possible.

Contact the WBEC for Cataract Expertise and All-Round Eye Health

The West Boca Eye Center needs no introduction as one of the country’s leading facilities for all things cataracts… However, many people are unaware that this is a true one-stop location for anything related to the health of the eyes. From regular eye exams to glaucoma, diabetic eye care to eye injuries, pediatric issues to cataract surgery—if it’s to do with your vision, then you can guarantee that you’ll receive the ultimate patient care.Head to https://westbocaeyecenter.com/services/cataract-surgery/ to discover more about our cataract surgery expertise or browse the rest of the website for an in-depth overview of all our services on offer.