When the natural lenses of your eyes become cloudy or opaque, it means you have cataracts. Many people who have cataracts, especially those whose cataracts are advanced, experience dim, blurry, and cloudy vision. They also notice that colors appear dull, muted, or less bright.

While wearing a stronger eyeglass prescription may temporarily improve your vision, cataracts surgery is the only permanent solution to clearer eyesight. Cataracts surgery is a common and very safe procedure that is performed in a surgical outpatient setting. Here are some postoperative interventions your opthalmologist will discuss with you. 

Wear Your Protective Eye Shield

Immediately following your cataracts surgery while you are still on the operating table, your surgeon will apply a protective metal eye shield over the operated eye with a special adhesive tape. The eye shield is worn to protect your eye from injury while you are recovering from your cataract procedure.

You will need to wear your protective eye shield for at least a few days following your eye surgery, however, your doctor may allow you to remove it for a couple of hours when you want to rest quietly. You will need to tape the eye shield back on over your eye when napping or sleeping at night. Your physician will tell you when you no longer need to wear it at your postoperative office visit. 

Take NSAIDs

Another postoperative intervention is the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, otherwise known as NSAIDs. Prescription NSAIDs eye drops are used to manage ocular swelling, and depending on how much eye inflammation you have, your doctor may recommend using the eye drops for up to a month.

To augment the effectiveness of your anti-inflammatory eye drops, you will need to avoid strenuous activities, such as swimming, bending down, and climbing stairs until your eye doctor tells you that it is safe to do so. These activities can increase your risk for internal eye swelling and elevated intraocular pressure.

When intraocular pressure becomes too high for long periods of time, the risk for glaucoma rises. When using your eye drops, be sure to wash your hands before opening the bottle and avoid touching your eyeball with the tip of the bottle applicator. 

If you are anticipating an upcoming cataract surgical procedure, talk to your eye doctor about postoperative interventions, including the above interventions. When you follow your physician's postoperative instructions, you are more likely to enjoy an event-free recovery. 

For more information, contact an optometry center in your area, such as Sabates Eye Centers.