You have just undergone retinal surgery. This is not a minor procedure but major surgery.

In the immediate postoperative period, the risk of infection is very significant. Please wash your hands prior to touching anywhere near the eye. If your eye is dabbed with a Kleenex tissue, a clean section of the tissue should be used each time or a new Kleenex tissue should be used. The eyes should not be rubbed.

For the next 3 days, cool compresses should be used on the eye. You can do this by putting ice and water in a bowl and then dipping a clean towel or washcloth in cold water in the bowl. Wring out the towel or wash cloth and then hold over the closed eye. This should be done four to five times a day for about 15 minutes at a time. This will prevent further swelling, which is often greatest during the first 10 postoperative days. After three to four days of this, warm compresses should be used to reduce swelling. If a microwave oven is available, a towel can be folded over and then rolled up. The towel is dipped in water and then heated up in the Microwave oven for several minutes. The warm towel can then be applied to the surface of the closed eye and as the surface layers cool down, the towel can be unrolled to where it is warmer again. Care must be taken not to put the towel on the eye until it is cool enough that the skin is not burned or injured. Alternatively, warm water in a bowl can be used to heat up the towel.

Typically, you will be started on drops consisting of Maxitrol (generic: dexamethasone-polymyxin-neomycin), one drop four times a day and Atropine 1%, one drop twice a day, in the surgical eye. Four times a day means when one awakens, at lunch, at dinner, and at bedtime. Twice a day means once in the morning and once in the evening. When the drops are taken at the same time, wait about three to four minutes between drops.

Soreness is normal, tearing is normal, bloody tears are normal, and irritation is normal. However, rapidly increasing pain is not normal; should this occur, the doctor should be called immediately. There is someone on call in our group 24 hours a day. Call the regular office number to reach the physician during off-hours or weekends. The emergency button should be pushed; this is carefully explained in the telephone message.

The hard shield should be worn over the surgical eye for about one month following the surgery. The shield should be taped over the surgical eye by placing a piece of diagonal tape from the forehead to the cheek on the side of the surgery.

A list of instructions for specific activities is attached below. All other questions should be addressed to your physician or a back office technician.

All of our physicians would like to hear from you should you have any questions or forget any of the instructions given to you. If you run out of medications and need a refill, please contact the office.

It is very important to keep all of your post-operative appointments as scheduled. Surgery is fraught with potential complications that can occur, not only during surgery but after surgery. Many times, the doctor can spot problems before they become significant and treat these effectively.

1. There will be occasional discomfort after returning home. You may take Tylenol Extra-Strength or another non-Aspirin prescribed pain reliever. DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN, ALLEVE, NUPRIN, OR ADVIL. If pain becomes severe, call your doctor.

2. Do not remove the eye patch. Your doctor will remove it himself the day after your surgery.

3. If necessary, the eyelids may be gently cleansed with cotton or gauze moistened in sterile or tap water. This should not be done routinely, only as necessary.

4. In case of coughing, take cough syrup. Do not try to hold back sneezes

5. SLEEP AS DIRECTED.

6. Do not rub eyes since this may disrupt blood vessels inside the eyes.

7. Activities may be resumed according to the following schedule:

 

ACTIVITY	TIME AFTER DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL
a. Watching television from a minimum distance of 10 feet.	a. Immediately
b. Bath or shower with extreme care, keeping soap and water away from eyes	b. Immediately
c. Careful walking outdoors with a companion, weather permitting.	c. Immediately
d. Reading	d. Immediately
e. Riding in a car – front seat looking forward (unless otherwise directed)	e. Immediately
f. Routing household chores (no scrubbing, lifting heavy objects)	f. One week
g. Shampooing hair (head back)	g. One week
h. Combing hair (gently)	h. Immediately
i. Electric Shaver	i. Immediately
j. Wet shave	j. Immediately
k. Ordinary or electric toothbrush	k. Immediately
l. Haircut	l. Three weeks
m. Return to work	m. Consult doctor
n. Sexual activity	n. Consult doctor

8. AVOID FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS THE FOLLOWING:

9. Your first post-operative appointment is will be the day following surgery. Please bring all of your bottles of eye drops and box of supplies to the office on your first postoperative visit.

• Eye Surgery
• The Hospital Stay

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