Post-Surgery Eye Care Instructions

Post-Operative Self-Care Instructions for Eye Surgery at Home

• Have a relative or caregiver wipe the operated eye once daily in the morning following the eye-cleaning instructions. Avoid sweeping the floor or turning on fans while cleaning the eye to prevent dust and germs from entering the eye.
• Have a relative or caregiver administer eye drops according to the times specified on the medicine label.
• While bathing, be careful not to get water in the eye. Do not pour water over your head; wash your body from the neck down. Refrain from swimming for 2-4 weeks after surgery.
• Do not wash your face with water. Use a clean, damp cloth to gently wipe your face for 2-4 weeks after surgery.
• Upon returning home, hair washing is allowed, but do not wash it yourself. Lie down and have someone else wash it for you, ensuring water does not enter the eye and washing gently to avoid excessive jarring for 2-4 weeks after surgery.
• Wear an eye shield, especially at night, to prevent accidental eye injury or rubbing the eye unintentionally.
• Be careful not to let dust enter the eye. Do not rub the eye or use any cloth to wipe the eye directly to prevent wound separation and infection.
• You may brush your teeth, but be careful to avoid nausea and vomiting.
• Avoid heavy work, lifting heavy objects, or strenuous exercise for 1 month.
• Eat a normal diet except hard, sticky, or tough foods (e.g., dried meat) and heavily spiced foods that may cause sneezing or coughing. Avoid severe coughing or sneezing (if necessary, try not to force it out fully, as it may cause wound separation or increased intraocular pressure).
• Attend every follow-up appointment as scheduled to examine the surgical wound and check for any abnormalities in the eye.
• If you experience abnormal symptoms such as severe eye pain that does not improve after pain medication, increased redness, worsened blurry vision, fever, vomiting, or excessive eye discharge, see a doctor immediately.

Supplies Provided by the Hospital

• 1 bottle of eye cleaning solution
• Sterile cotton balls
• Eye shield and eye pad
• Adhesive tape/plaster
• Eye drops
• A clean towel for wiping hands
• A container or plastic bag for disposing of used cotton balls

How to Clean the Eye

• Prepare all supplies and place them near the patient. Pre-cut the adhesive tape.
• Position the patient lying flat on their back. Remove the old eye pad (if present) and clean the existing eye shield according to proper cleaning methods.
• The person cleaning the eye must wash hands thoroughly with soap and clean water, then dry them with the prepared clean towel.
• Take about 4 cotton balls into the palm of your hand and pour the eye solution onto them until damp.
  • Take the 1st cotton ball, flatten it, ask the patient to close their eye, and gently wipe the upper eyelid from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye.
  • Take the 2nd cotton ball, flatten it, wipe the lower eyelid margin while the eye is closed, and check if it is clean.
  • Take the 3rd cotton ball and clean the inner corner of the eye thoroughly, wiping down from the head of the eyebrow along the bridge of the nose (as pictured).
  • Use the 4th cotton ball after instilling eye drops to dab excess medication around the eye. Do not wipe back and forth. If eye drops are prescribed, apply them before covering the eye according to instillation instructions.
• Have the patient close their eye, place the eye pad over the eye, and cover it with the eye shield.

Note: 4.1-4.2 If not completely clean, repeat with a new cotton ball.

How to Apply Eye Drops and Eye Ointment

• Wash hands thoroughly and dry with a clean towel.
• Have the patient sit and tilt their head back or lie flat on their back.
• Place the ring finger on the cheekbone and gently pull the lower eyelid down. Ask the patient to look up, then drop the medicine into the lower eyelid pouch, avoiding the cornea. Keep the tip of the dropper about 1 inch away from the eyeball to avoid poking the eye.
• Have the patient close their eye gently without squeezing hard, and use a cotton ball to blot overflowing excess liquid.
• If using 2 types of eye drops at the same time, wait about 5-10 minutes between drops to prevent the medications from counteracting each other or overflowing.
• If using eye drops and eye ointment at the same time, apply the eye drops first, wait about 5-10 minutes, and then apply the eye ointment.
• To apply ointment, pull the lower eyelid down, squeeze about half a centimeter of ointment into the lower eyelid pouch from the inner to outer corner, taking care not to touch the tube tip to the eye, then have the patient close their eye.
• For suspension eye drops (cloudy/white appearance), shake well before each use.

How to Clean the Eye Shield (Should be cleaned daily)

• Wash the removed eye shield thoroughly with soapy water or mild detergent.
• Rinse with clean water, leave it to air dry, and store it in a clean container for the next day's use.