“Priorities of Siloam’s Medical Care”
Patient Comfort & Satisfaction
PRECAUTIONS FOR CATARACT SURGERY
Post-Operation Symptoms
- After surgery , symptoms of redness in the eye [Conjunctival Hyperemia ] may last for 2 to 4 weeks , along with dryness and foreign body sensation —these symptoms may take up to several months to disappear completely.
- A refraction test for glasses is required 1-2 months after surgery—depending on results, the patient may get a prescription for glasses.
- After surgery, after-cataracts may form, which can be treated with an outpatient laser procedure to restore vision.
How to Use Eye Drops & Precautions
- One day after surgery, 2 or 3 types of eye drops (antibiotics and anti-inflammatory) are prescribed.
- Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before applying eye drops.
- When applying eye drops tilt one ’s head back , look upwards , gently pull the lower eyelid downward , and carefully squeeze eyedrop bottles into the operated eye—be careful not to touch the cornea.
- Eye drops can be administered in any order, but take a 5 minute interval between each eye drop.
- Keep eye drops in cool places free from direct sunlight—store eye drops out of children’s reach.
- When the patient experiences vision loss, severe eye pain, or headaches, be sure to visit the hospital immediately to meet the doctor.
PRECAUTIONS FOR RETINAL/GLAUCOMA SURGERY
- After surgery, patients may experience symptoms of watery eyes or foreign body sensation.
- After surgery, patients may suffer symptoms of headaches, periocular pain, or nausea due to increased intraocular pressure.
- Patients who received oil injections will have to undergo oil removal later. The term depends on the condition of the eye.
- A patient’s visual prognosis after surgery depends on the condition of the retina and optic nerves. A full recovery will take up to 6 months.
- Refrain from washing one’s face or showering for 1 full week after surgery, and also avoid swimming pools, public baths, and saunas for about one month. Also, refrain from dyeing hair or getting hair permanent curls for one month after surgery.
- After glaucoma surgery, due to excessive aqueous humor outflow—the fluid produced by the eye —a hypotonic condition may occur, it is important not to apply excessive pressure to the eye.
- In case of severe eye pain, headache, nausea or vomiting, or vision loss, be sure to visit the hospital to consult one’s doctor.
PRECAUTIONS FOR REFRACTIVE SURGERY / ICL INTRAOCULAR LENS SURGERY
Precautions Before Surgery
- It is important that patients stop wearing soft lenses for 2 weeks and RGP hard lenses for 3 weeks BEFORE receiving an eye examination, to ensure an accurate examination of corneal curvature and visual acuity accurately.
- Please refrain from wearing any makeup on the day of surgery.
- On the day of surgery, patients should prepare sunglasses and a hat, as well as come accompanied by a guardian or friend.
- Since mydriatic eye drops that dilate the pupils will be administered before eye surgery, please be sure to arrive at the hospital by the appointed time. (ICL)
Precautions For Refractive Surgery
- The patient may experience symptoms of severe pain and watery eyes following the surgery and the day after.
- On the day of surgery, patients should refrain from any rubbing that might lead to swelling or eyes becoming congested, as well as avoiding any action that might impact or put pressure on one’s eyes.
- Patients need to visit the hospital for a post-operation checkup the day after and 5 to 7 days after eye surgery.
- After surgery it is recommended that patients wear an eye patch when sleeping, and wear glasses or sunglasses with UV protection whenever going outside for about 3 months.
- Refrain from washing one’s face following the surgery and the day after. About 4 to 5 days after removing the treatment lenses, patients may resume using soap and shampoo when washing ones’ face, bathing, or showering.
- Patients should resume applying eye makeup a full 2 weeks after surgery.
- Patients should avoid swimming pools, public baths, and saunas for 1 month after surgery.
- Also, refrain from dyeing hair or getting hair permanent curls or straightening for one month after having the eye operation.
- Patients should refrain from casual drinking of alcohol for 2 weeks after eye surgery, while heavy drinking of spirits should be avoided for 3 months.
- Patients should refrain from strenuous exercise for 4 weeks, and take special precaution for 2 months to avoid bumping one’s eyes while exercising.
- Eye drops need to be regularly administered for about 4 months—in the case of LASIK surgery, 1-2 months.
- Patients may experience blurred vision where things lack sharpness or are hazy immediately following eye surgery. When viewing things close-up view, patients may also experience double-vision or thing may appear blurry.
- Glows may appear diffuse at night, but usually lessen after 6 months.
- After surgery, patients experiencing dryness of the eyes should regularly administer artificial tears prescribed and utilize a humidifier when sleeping. Post-operative dryness usually subsides after 6 months.
- Although having corrective surgery does not increase the risk of contracting eye diseases, if the patient’s eyes become infected they should notify and seek medical treatment immediately from the Siloam Eye Hospital.
- To prevent corneal opacity, where the clear surface of your eye becomes scarred, it is recommended that patients take 1000 mg of vitamin C every day for about 6 months after corrective eye surgery.
- In the case of high myopia, regardless or surgery, patients need to regularly get a retinal examination every 6 months to every year as a preventive measure to safeguard against retinal detachment.
Precautions For Intraocular Lens (ICL) Surgery
- On the day of surgery, patients should avoid rubbing eyes in any way. Even post-surgery, patients should refrain from vigorous rubbing of the eyes to avoid damage to blood vessels and the cornea.
- Patients may return home without hospitalization after surgery, but will need to rest for 1-2 hours prior to being released. The eye patch and bandages administered after surgery must not be removed—the patient are required to return to the outpatient clinic the following day to have them removed.
- Patients must take care when sleeping not to lay on the operated side, and must always sleep with the plastic eye protector provided at the hospital to protect the eyes for 1 month after eye surgery.
- After eye surgery, patients should wash their face with a wet towel—additionally the patient should lie down and have someone else wash their hair to ensure that water is kept clear of the operated eye.
- 1 full week following the eye operation, patients may wash their face and hair, and also take showers as usual.
- Patients should apply eye drops AFTER washing their face and hair, or taking a shower.
- Patients should resume applying eye makeup a full 2 weeks after surgery.
- Patients should avoid swimming pools, public baths, and saunas for 1 month after surgery.
- Also, refrain from dyeing hair or getting hair permanent curls or straightening for one month after having the eye operation.
- Patients should refrain from casual drinking of alcohol for 2 weeks after eye surgery, while heavy drinking of spirits should be avoided for 3 months.
- Patients should refrain from strenuous exercise for 4 weeks, and take special precaution for 2 months to avoid bumping one’s eyes while exercising.
- Eye drop medication must be regularly administered for 1 month after eye corrective surgery.
- After surgery, patients may experience abrasion and excessive watering in the eyes; additionally, eyes may feel a menthol sensation—coldness due to dryness and hypersensitivity of the cornea—which may worsen, but these symptoms usually improve within a few days to several weeks after surgery.
- It is normal for things to appear hazy and for vision to lack clarity right after eye surgery.
- Patients will need to re-visit the hospital [ A ] the day after surgery (to remove eye patch and bandages); and [ B ] 3-4 days after for a follow-up examination with the doctor.
- It is normal for patients to experience differences in visual acuity between the two eyes.
- It is also normal for patients to experience redness in the eyes for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery.
- After surgery, patients experiencing dryness of the eyes should regularly administer artificial tears prescribed and utilize a humidifier when sleeping. Post-operative dryness usually subsides after 6 months.
- Although having corrective surgery does not increase the risk of contracting eye diseases, if the patient’s eyes become infected they should notify and seek medical treatment immediately from the Siloam Eye Hospital.
- After surgery, special care must be taken not to rub the eyes to the point of swelling or becoming bloodshot, as well as carefully avoiding any action that might cause direct impact to the eyes.
- In the case of high myopia, patients undergoing corrective eye surgery need to regularly get a retinal examination every 6 months or every year as a preventive measure to safeguard against retinal detachment.
PRECAUTIONS FOR STRABISMUS SURGERY
- Avoid washing one’s face for one week after surgery to avoid any water getting into one’s eyes.
- Up to one month after surgery, patients should avoid all water facilities—such as swimming pools, public baths, and saunas—and also refrain from all extreme sports that carry any risk of shock or injury to the eye.
- After surgery, patients may experience eye congestion and/or foreign body sensation. These symptoms may continue for a considerable period of time—approximately one month—but will gradually improve over time.
- After surgery, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops should be applied regularly as doctor’s order.
- Outpatient observation is necessary as a patient may suffer from undercorrection, overcorrection, recurrence, or manifestation of latent strabismus.
- Avoid rubbing one’s eyes for at least 1 month after surgery.
- It is recommended to wear the eye protector received at the hospital while sleeping in order to protect one’s eyes from external shock for one week after surgery.
- Patients experiencing severe eye pain, headaches, or vision loss should visit the hospital immediately for a check-up.