Can I Sleep On My Side After Cataract Surgery?
Cataracts are a common problem with older adults, those with previous eye injuries, smokers, and individuals who have spent a lot of time in the sun without the proper eye protection. The best way to treat cataracts is with cataract surgery in Calgary. This is a very common surgery that takes as little as ten minutes. While some individuals experience clearer vision in just a few hours following their surgery, complete recovery can take a month or longer, depending on the individual.
During this recovery period, it is very important to listen to the advice of your cataract eye surgeon near you. One of these pieces of advice is to avoid sleeping on your side following your procedure. In this post, our team at Seema Eye explains why you must follow this rule for recovery.
Sleeping After Cataract Surgery
It is not uncommon for eye surgeons in Calgary to provide patients with a protective eye shield following their eye procedure. Since your risk of infection is higher after surgery, wearing your eye shield following your procedure is very important, even when sleeping. You will need to be careful not to sleep on the side with the recovering eye in addition to wearing your eye shield. This will reduce the risk of irritation and infection in the eye and help speed up your recovery process.
As with any healing process, getting enough rest and sleep is vital for recovering from cataract surgery. There are a couple of things you can do to avoid irritating your eye during your sleep. Sleep on your back or on the opposite side of the eye that was operated on to decrease your risk of infection and irritation after surgery. If you turn over in your sleep, your eye shield should help protect your eye from significant damage. Ensure that you wear your eye shield as directed and do not take breaks from it, even during the night.
Avoid These Activities Following Cataract Surgery
You want to ensure that you keep liquids and dust out of your eye following your surgery to avoid serious complications. When performed by a team of professional eye surgeons near you, complications following cataract surgery are rare, but it is important to follow your surgeon’s advice for recovery. Here are some activities that you should avoid while recovering from cataract surgery:
- Drinking alcohol and smoking
- Rubbing your eyes
- Swimming or soaking in hot tubs
- Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise
It would be best if you also refrain from driving for the first day following your procedure. This means you will need a trusted friend or family member to drive you to and from your appointment.
Visit Seema Eye
If you still have questions about cataract surgery and what to expect before, during, and after your procedure, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of professionals at Seema Eye. We are happy to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about cataract surgery and ensure that you have all the tools you need for a successful recovery. Please get in touch with us to book your consultation with our experienced team of eye surgeons today. We cannot wait to help you see better and improve your overall quality of life!