

The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eye. You will not be able to see what is happening, but you will be aware of a bright light.What to Expect During Recovery After a Retinal Detachment or Tear Submitted by Elman Retina Group on September 22, 2022

With a local anaesthetic you will be awake during the operation. This usually done under local anesthesia.

The purpose of the operation is to replace the cataract with a plastic lens (implant) inside your eye. You can listen to Dr Fong talking about cataract surgery. These medications may need to be stopped before surgery. If you are considering surgery, please let the doctor know if you are taking the following medications: Flomax (Tamsulosin), Doxazosin, Asprin, or any blood thinning drugs like Warfarin, Plavix or Ticlid (Dipyradimole). Waiting for a longer period of time may make the operation more difficult. If the cataract is not removed, your vision may stay the same, but it will probably gradually get worse. This is usually due to old age but can also occur due to trauma, diabetes, or due to medications.Ĭataract surgery is done when the lens in your eye has become cloudy making it difficult for you to see well enough to carry out your usual daily activities. Most patients recover completely 1 month after eye surgery when the redness and swelling around the eye has gone away.Ī cataract is clouding of the lens in your eye. There are no food restrictions after surgery but in Asia, for cultural reasons, some of my post op patients avoid foods like prawn, seafood, and eggs. Swimming is out of the question for at least 1 month after surgery. They can use a clean towel to wipe around the operated eye. Patients should also avoid washing their hair for 2 days after surgery to prevent water from getting into their operated eye. I advise all my post op patients to wear a plastic eye shield on their operated eye when they are sleeping to stop them from accidentally rubbing their eye.

Sometimes, a dilating eye drop is also given to prevent your pupil from becoming stuck together. You have to use antibiotic and steroid eyedrops for at least 2 weeks after surgery. Your eye will be slightly uncomfortable after surgery and you may sometimes be given painkiller tablets. With silicone oil, you can see immediately after surgery but it will still be a little blurred. Retina surgeons sometimes put in silicone oil into the eye. During this time, your vision will be blurred and you cannot travel in an airplane. Usually, we put in a short acting gas bubble which stays in the eye for up to 2 weeks. This depends very much on what the surgeon puts in the eye after vitrectomy. How long will my vision be blur for after surgery? Our eye can function normally even without this gel. The vitreous gel will be replaced by the natural fluid in the eye called “aqueous” and there will be no damage to the eye if the gel is removed. Many patients have the fear that their eye will collapse or be damaged after the vitreous gel is removed. Does the vitreous gel need to be replaced? Vitrectomy surgery is usually done under local anesthetic and takes less than 30 minutes to do. This involves removing the vitreous gel in your eye with tiny keyhole incisions. Vitrectomy eye surgery is done for conditions like retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy and for complications of cataract surgery like infection or retained lens matter.
