November 9, 2024

Eye Hygiene After Cataract Surgery: Essential Cleaning Tips

Cataract Surgery

It is highly common to have vision loss due to the development of cataracts in your eye. Fortunately, Modesto cataract surgery restores your poor vision effectively. It is a safe, frequently performed, and painless procedure. Post-surgery you need to be careful of giving yourself adequate time to recover while following the post-operative recommendations suggested by your eye surgeon. Protecting your eyes from dust and dirt is critical to your recovery. You need to clean your eyes thoroughly to avoid creating an environment for the bacteria to grow and cause more infections and other postoperative complications.

Read on, to know some effective ways and steps to protect and clean your eyes right after cataract surgery.

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure to remove the diseased or clouded lens of your eye and replace it with a new artificial lens, known as an intraocular lens (IOL). Cataracts develop commonly due to aging. However, they may also develop due to other conditions such as trauma to the eyes, excessive exposure to UV rays and radiation, diseases like diabetes, or long-term use of medications like steroids. Blurred vision, faded colors, double vision in the affected eye, halo surrounding the lights, and visual impairment are some of the symptoms experienced due to cataracts.

It usually takes around 4 to 6 weeks to completely recover after cataract surgery. Meanwhile, there are some important post-operative instructions that you must follow. These ensure the risk of side effects is reduced and the vision is restored quickly. Among several reminders, cleaning your eyes after cataract surgery plays a vital role in healing and faster recovery.

How to clean your eyes after cataract surgery?

Following the steps below for thorough and effective cleaning of your operated eye:

Before you start cleaning your eye

  • Wash your hands thoroughly before you touch or handle your eye. Since any bacteria present in your hands can be accidentally transferred to your operated eye. This may cause an eye infection.
  • Position yourself comfortably while supporting your head.
  • Ensure the place you are sitting has good lighting.

Materials required

  • Sterile gauze swabs or cotton balls.
  • Boiled and cooled water.
  • Sterile pot to pour the boiled water.

Cleaning the eyelashes

  • Take the gauze swab or cotton ball, and dip it in the boiled and cooled water.
  • Squeeze and remove the excess water, since you should not let water enter your operated eye.
  • Hold your operated eye and gently place the swab/cotton ball on your eyelashes.
  • Clean the eyelash in one direction- inner to outer canthus.
  • Dispose of the gauze swab/cotton ball.

Cleaning the lower eyelid

  • Take a swab/cotton ball and dip it in the water, squeeze the extra water.
  • With the other index finger, gently pull down your lower eyelid.
  • Clean the lower eyelid margin from the inner to the outer canthus.
  • Dispose of the swab/cotton ball.

Cleaning the upper eyelid

  • Extra care has to be taken while cleaning the upper eyelid.
  • Make sure the cornea is in view and avoid touching it with the swab.
  • You need to look down.
  • With one hand take the swab and moisten it with the water solution.
  • On the other hand, use your thumb to gently ease the upper eyelid up against the rim (situated just below the eyebrow).
  • Do not put pressure on the eyeball.
  • Using the swab gently clean along the upper eyelid margin in one movement, inner to outer canthus.
  • Discard the swab after use.
  • If the eyelids are sticky you need to repeat the above steps until all the debris and discharge have been removed. 
  • You need to discard the unused water solution at the end.

Cataract surgeries help to restore your vision by implanting a new intraocular lens (IOL). Hygiene is very important to ward off infections and other unwanted post-op complications following a cataract surgery. Keeping your eyes clean is a crucial part of your healing and recovery process