Cataract surgery after care

[Berylholley]

Is 2 weeks enough time to administer eye drops after cataract surgery? I find it makes my eye feel worse. It may be I am allergic to preservatives.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Think they really like you to finish course given, but can you ring eye clinic and get advice? Your paperwork should have a contact number for any queries.

[Berylholley in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you I will do that.

[scats in reply to Berylholley]

I'm with DL, they did sting a bit sometimes,but they have their reasons. check first.

[Berylholley in reply to scats]

Thanks I have contacted the eye hospital, kept hanging on for 20mins, finally got to someone in the department and asked for doctors secretar to ring me.

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to DorsetLady]

I'm inclined to say that when you're given a dose of antibiotics, you finish the course.

If you are really having continuous discomfort, however, talk to your eye doctor.

[marigolds in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Hoping to get a call back tomorrow from Eye Hospital.

[Marijo1951]

It's important to continue with the drops until your eyes are healed. Your clinic will be able to advise on alternatives to the drops you are currently using if you have an allergy. I remember them stinging a bit, but not unbearably.

[Berylholley in reply to Marijo1951]

I was hoping they may be able to supply some, I have to have Celluvise individual tear drops for dry eyes. I found a very helpful American video they said a week was enough for drops an could use the Celluvise ones as much as I like.

[Marijo1951 in reply to Berylholley]

I suppose there are different views on how long the risk of infection lasts after the operation. I had my cataracts dealt with 8 years ago, so my recollections are a bit hazy, but I think I was told to use the drops for about 2 weeks afterwards. One thing for sure is that my eyesight improved beyond my expectations, so I was very pleased with the results.

[Rose54]

My Mum was told to finish the course thay gave her both times she had cataract removed.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not a question for here I fear Beryl - you must speak to your doctor. There is a good reason for the time they say you need to use the drops and I really wouldn't believe a video you found online without checking with your own eye clinic. The technique they used for the op may have been different.

[Berylholley in reply to PMRpro]

I am having trouble getting the drops in!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Berylholley]

If you have no-one who can do them for you, it is often possible for a nurse to do it for you because it is important. Or, at least it was once ...

[marigolds in reply to PMRpro]

I have 2 different eye drops making 8 times a day. Haven't had a call back yet. They are very busy. Thanks for reply.

[clieder in reply to Berylholley]

Did they instruct you to tilt your head back and pinch under the lower lid when you put them in, then hold a tissue to the inner corners of the closed eyes and look down, holding that for at least one minute? I had trouble with an eye drop at one point and that kept the stinging from being a problem. I was amazed at the difference.

Do you have three drops or just one?

[marigolds in reply to clieder]

Yes I have been doing that. I can't seem to position it right and am frightened of touching eye because of infection. I am to take 2 different drops 4 times a day for 4 weeks.

[HeronNS]

My mother in law had quite a reaction to the drops after her cataract surgery and she was given another kind which was fine. Sorry I don't remember the details but she was utterly miserable with the first kind. If you have an allergic reaction it won't be doing you any good to keep on using it but you must not stop without having something else prescribed.

[marigolds in reply to HeronNS]

Rang Eye Hospital kept getting "you are first in queue for 20 minutes. Spoke to someone supposed to be getting a call back. Beryl

[HeronNS in reply to marigolds]

Oh, bummer. That is like the phone was off the hook. Did you ever get through to anyone?

[marigolds in reply to HeronNS]

Should get a call back tomorrow

[Blearyeyed]

I would definitely ring your eye clinic to arrange an emergency ( quick) appointment or even a phone back from your Opthamologist about the drops.

It could be possible that you have some intolerance to them or that your eyes are just more sensitive to the repair happening , and as you have other health issues to they are likely to have other alternatives that they can prescribe for you ( usually more expensive which is why they are not the first choice but are available if you do not react well to the current type).

It's not worth taking chances with your eyes and pain shouldn't be ignored , hope you get something that helps soon , hugs , Bee xx

[Berylholley in reply to Blearyeyed]

Will try to contact Opthalmist. Xx