Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest surgical procedures available, but there are certain activities that should be avoided after the operation. Until the surgeon tells you otherwise, it is important to avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and other activities that could cause pressure to be transmitted from the chest or abdomen to the eyeball. Swimming pools should also be avoided as they can harbor bacteria and increase the risk of infection. Wearing eye makeup and driving should also be avoided for at least two weeks after the surgery.
Additionally, wearing a clear protector at night for a week after cataract surgery is recommended to prevent rubbing of the eyes while sleeping. It is also common to experience flying flies after cataract surgery, as light is now scattered less through the transparent intraocular lens compared to before the operation. Vigorously rubbing your eyes should also be avoided as it can negatively affect the healing process. If you follow the clinical care team's instructions on what you should and shouldn't do after cataract surgery, your recovery should be comfortable and quick.
