What Food Should I Avoid After Cataract Surgery?

Recovering from cataract surgery is a well-documented process. It’s known that there are many things you can do to support a speedy recovery—and that includes nutrition. However, It’s not as simple as avoiding one single food, like salt, for example. Particular groups of foods can have a detrimental effect on the healing process. 

Instead of asking, “What food should I avoid after cataract surgery?” it’s far more beneficial to know the answer to, “What foods promote recovery and which ones hinder it?”.

With that in mind, let’s get to grips with the eating and health habits that are proven to help you speed through the process and get you back to normal activities as soon as possible.

Nutrition and Habits to Adopt for the Fastest Recovery from Cataract Surgery

• What foods should I eat after cataract surgery?
• What foods should I avoid after cataract surgery?
• Adopt these lifestyle choices

What foods should I eat after cataract surgery?

You should aim to eat foods that provide the body with the nutrition it needs to promote tissue recovery. These can be grouped into four main categories:

• Fruit and vegetables: Try to include lots of leafy greens, as these are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Also include those with beta-carotene (think orange and red products, such as carrots and sweet potatoes), and those with vitamin C (citrus fruits are particularly beneficial). 
• High protein foods: Fish, chicken, beans, and tofu are all good options and provide your body with the essential elements it needs for fast tissue repair.
• Whole grains: Think quinoa, brown rice, oatmeal, and whole-grain bread. These are rich in vitamins and minerals, both of which the body requires for the healing process.
• Healthy fats: Your body needs these, both for essential function and for their natural anti-inflammatory properties. They are found in foods like olive oil, seeds, nuts, oily fish, eggs, and avocado.

What foods should I avoid after cataract surgery?

Reducing consumption of foods that actively hinder bodily functions—such as tissue repair, digestion, salt, and sugar regulation—can have a very positive effect on the healing process.

You should do your best to avoid:

• Foods high in sugar: While items like chocolate, candy, and cookies automatically spring to mind, high-sugar foods also include many ready meals and ultra-processed foods. These don’t only cause blood sugar spikes, but they trigger inflammation as well.
• Foods high in fat: In particular trans and saturated fats. Again, processed foods are often full of these, as are certain meats, and many dairy products.
• Foods high in salt: Once again, this includes ultra-processed options, as well as cookies, many types of bread, pizza, and—some of the worst culprits—processed meats, like bacon, ham, and sausages.
• Alcohol: Try to limit the amount you drink. Alcohol triggers inflammation and also causes dehydration. It can also inhibit how some medications work.

Adopt these lifestyle choices

As well as taking steps to eat healthily, you should:

• Try to follow a healthy sleep pattern.
• Manage stress.
• Take gentle exercise and move around regularly.
• Look after other health conditions and take any prescribed medications as instructed.
• Do things that you love. This has a great impact on your well-being, which can also have a positive effect on how well and the speed of healing.

Get Answers to “What Foods Should I Avoid After Cataract Surgery?” & Other FAQs at the WBEC

At the West Boca Eye Center, we don’t just treat cataracts. We make sure that every one of our patients is kept fully informed at every stage. Maybe you’ve just had a diagnosis and, naturally, have a bunch of questions. Perhaps your surgery is scheduled and you want to know when you can drive, get back on the golf course, watch TV, or anything else.

Our service includes making sure you have all the answers to every single one of your questions. It’s just one of the many reasons people travel across the country to avail themselves of our world-beating cataract care.

Discover more at https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/services/cataract-surgery and call today to start your journey.

Recovering from cataract surgery is a well-documented process. It’s known that there are many things you can do to support a speedy recovery—and that includes nutrition. However, It’s not as simple as avoiding one single food, like salt, for example. Particular groups of foods can have a detrimental effect on the healing process.

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