Retina surgery is a delicate eye procedure performed to treat serious conditions like retinal detachment, macular hole, diabetic retinopathy, epiretinal membrane, or vitreous hemorrhage.
What happens after surgery is just as important as the procedure itself. Proper care helps prevent complications and protects your vision.
If you or your family member has recently undergone retina surgery, this simple guide will help you understand what to do and what to avoid during recovery.
Why Post-Retina Surgery Care Is Important
The retina is a thin, light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. After surgery, it needs protection and time to heal.
Following proper postoperative instructions helps:
- Reduce risk of infection
- Control swelling and inflammation
- Maintain proper retinal position
- Improve the final visual outcome
- Prevent repeat retinal detachment
- Even small mistakes, like rubbing the eye or skipping medicines, can affect recovery.
Do’s After Retina Surgery
1. Take Medicines Exactly as Prescribed
After retina surgery, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops and sometimes oral medicines.
Important tips:
- Use drops at the correct time
- Wash hands before applying
- Do not stop medication early
- Do not self-medicate
- Proper use of medicines reduces infection and promotes faster healing.
2. Use Protective Glasses
- Your eyes will be sensitive to dust, pollution, and sunlight.
- Wearing protective glasses:
- Prevents dust entry
- Reduces irritation
- Protects from accidental injury
- Minimizes light sensitivity
- This is especially important when going outdoors.
3. Maintain Correct Head Position (If Advised)
- In many retinal detachment surgeries, a gas bubble is placed inside the eye to support healing.
- If your doctor has advised specific head positioning:
- Follow it strictly
- Maintain the position while sitting and sleeping
- Do not ignore this instruction
- Proper positioning ensures the retina stays attached and heals correctly
4. Attend All Follow-Up Appointments
- Regular follow-up visits are essential even if you feel fine.
- During check-ups, your doctor will:
- Check eye pressure
- Monitor retinal healing
- Detect early complications
- Timely monitoring prevents long-term damage.
5. Report Any Problems Immediately
- Contact your eye specialist immediately if you notice:
- Sudden eye pain
- Increased redness
- Sudden drop in vision
- Flashes of light
- New floaters
- Dark curtain-like shadow
- Early treatment can save vision.
❌ Don’ts After Retina Surgery
1. Do Not Rub or Press the Eye
- Rubbing can:
- Increase eye pressure
- Disrupt healing
- Cause internal damage
- Increase infection risk
- If there is irritation, consult your doctor instead.
2. Do Not Skip Eye Drops - Missing doses can:
- Increase infection risk
- Delay healing
- Lead to complications
- Set reminders if necessary.
- Consistency is critical for recovery.
3. Do Not Ignore Vision Changes - Mild blurring is common after surgery. However, sudden changes are not normal.
- Seek immediate medical attention if vision worsens or pain increases.
- Ignoring symptoms can lead to permanent vision damage.
How Long Does Retina Surgery Recovery Take? - Recovery time depends on:
- Type of retinal condition
- Type of surgery performed
- Presence of a gas bubble
- Overall health of the patient
- Vision may take weeks to months to stabilize.
- Patience and strict follow-up are important.
