After your surgery
After surgery, your eyes will be lubricated with ointment and eye pads and ice goggles will be applied. Your eyelids may feel tight and sore as the anaesthesia wears off, but you can control any discomfort with the pain medication prescribed. You will be instructed to sleep with your head elevated for the first week, and to use cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. Bruising varies from person to person: it reaches its peak during the first week, and generally lasts anywhere from two weeks to a month. You’ll be shown how to clean your eyes, which may be gummy for a week or so. We will also provide eyedrops, since your eyelids may feel dry at first and your eyes may burn or itch. For the first few weeks you may also experience excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and temporary changes in your eyesight, such as blurring or double vision. Don’t drive until your vision has returned to normal.
We will follow your progress very closely for the first week or two. Once the stitches are removed the swelling and discoloration around your eyes will gradually subside, and you’ll start to look and feel much better. Arnica pillules, taken after the surgery, are thought to help the bruising subside much faster.
Getting back to normal
You should be able to read or watch television after two or three days. However, you won’t be able to wear contact lenses for about two weeks and even then they may feel uncomfortable for a while.
Most people feel ready to go out in public (and back to work) in a week to 10 days. By then, depending on your rate of healing, you’ll probably be able to wear makeup to hide the bruising that remains. You may be sensitive to sunlight, wind, and other irritants for several weeks, so you should wear sunglasses when you go out.
Please keep your activities to a minimum for three to five days, and to avoid more strenuous activities for about six to twelve. It’s especially important to avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting, and rigorous sports. You may also be told to avoid alcohol, since it causes fluid retention. You should be back to normal by three months and will see me again at this stage.
