When you suffer from poor vision due to cloudy cataracts, your medical team may suggest surgery. Cataract surgery involves taking your cataract and replacing it with one that's artificial. The overall aim is to improve your vision. Although it may not eliminate your need to wear glasses entirely, it can significantly improve your quality of life. If you're due to have this type of surgery, here's how to master your recovery period.

Take It Easy 

Try to rest for the first one to three days following your surgery. As your surgery will likely take place under general anaesthetic, you may struggle to master your usual tasks during the first 24 hours anyway. Resting for three days gives your body's healing processes a chance to kick in. If your usual routine involves strenuous exercise, make sure you seek advice from your surgeon before recommencing it.

Treat Your Eyes Delicately

Rubbing your eyes can sometimes be an instinctive action that you do without thinking. However, if you do it following cataract surgery you may cause damage. To prevent this from becoming an issue, try keeping your eye patch or shield on for most of the time you're awake. Additionally, make sure you set reminders to use your eye drops when necessary. They're there to keep harmful bacteria from entering your eye and causing an infection. Make sure you also use your eye shield at night for however long your surgeon instructs you to.

Adjust Your Beauty Routine

It's safe to wash your hair the day after your surgery. However, you should wear your shield and make every effort to avoid shampoo or water getting into your eye. Follow your doctor's recommendations when it comes to wearing eye makeup. In a lot of cases, it's necessary to avoid it for at least a couple of weeks. You may also want to exercise caution when using lotions and other beauty products near your eye. If there's a risk that it may get into your eye, avoid it until your doctor feels it's safe to use it again.

Adapt Other Activities

If you usually swim for exercise, you may need to switch to walking for a few weeks. Similarly, activities such as gardening and dusting may be off the table until your doctor feels it's safe to do so. Any activity that risks introducing harmful substances to your eyes is an activity that's worth avoiding. By maintaining consistent contact with your medical team during your recovery, you can establish when it's safe to return to your usual routine.