Running after cataract surgery

I had no problems post two cataract surgeries, but you wrote a lengthy lament so I decided to say a few things that may be helpful. My surgeries were about two years apart.

I had no restrictions on my daily running and no hair-washing restriction. Maybe your hair is longer and the surgeon is concerned with hair entering your eye and you possibly poking the eye. He did suggest putting a patch over my eye to protect the eye when sleeping. I did not feel a need to do that.

My second post-op meet with the surgeon was one week after the surgery. At that time you will get another pressure exam. Absent an explanation of what is giving rise to the pressure, you probably should heed his/her advice. You have no restrictions on your running, so thanks for that!

My second eye was done the last week in February and it took until the middle of June for my sight to be fine. Biggest problem was double vision when driving. Systane ultra eye drops help a lot. It seems everyone has different reactions. My doctor said it may take six months for total recovery and it took me about five. Now all I need glasses for is reading. My night vision is better than it has been for fifty years. Don’t need glasses for TV. Strong sun glasses are a must. Avoided water in the eyes for about a month but managed to wash my hair each day. Just be patient. And use the drops.

Go run, you are fine. I took one day off. I ran long the morning of the surgery then just took the next day off. My doc on limited me on scuba diving, none of that for 90 days.

As an optometrist who follows all of my office’s cataract surgeries postoperatively, I would listen to your surgeon. Because there are different techniques for cataract surgery, the postop restrictions and care can vary greatly. I would also be concerned about your half marathon since you will still be quite anisometropic (big difference between your eyes)- that may create quite an imbalance when trying to run.

As far as the elevated eye pressure, that is somewhat common and typically only requires the extra drops for about one week.

Hope this helps.

whoa! wrote:

I had no restrictions on my daily running and no hair-washing restriction. Maybe your hair is longer and the surgeon is concerned with hair entering your eye and you possibly poking the eye. He did suggest putting a patch over my eye to protect the eye when sleeping. I did not feel a need to do that.

My second post-op meet with the surgeon was one week after the surgery. At that time you will get another pressure exam. Absent an explanation of what is giving rise to the pressure, you probably should heed his/her advice. You have no restrictions on your running, so thanks for that!

Thanks for the response. Interesting about the difference in restrictions. I have short hair and the no-water near the eye for a week, no hair washing, shower only from the neck down is my doc's standard rule for all patients. I am not even allowed to wash my face! They also say avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, etc. for two weeks.

They didnt give me a patch but I asked for one and wore it the first night for sleeping.

Are you in the US? My doc said in England and France (i.e., countries with socialized medicine) the surgeons do not see their patients until one week post surgery, but here in the US he always sees his patients the next day for the first followup. Many times the increased pressure resolves on its own but sometimes it doesn't. I had to keep my mouth shut while I listened to his speech about why the US way is better. Just lucky we can afford the surgery even though our insurance isn't that great.

In Sweden, I hear cataract surgery costs $35. Here in the US, its thousands of dollars.

Looking forward to tomorrow afternoon when I can wash my hair! Was going to visit a hair salon but was too worried about an accidental bump to the eye. Hair looks ok with dry shampoo but feels gross.

Probably try a short run tomorrow afternoon. I've been doing short, slow walks on my treadmill but I really can't run due to the amount I sweat. It's not just the hair but it could drip down my face into the eye.

Old Blind Runner Lady wrote:

In Sweden, I hear cataract surgery costs $35. Here in the US, its thousands of dollars.

The real question is who pays, how much they pay, and how they pay. In both countries, ordinary people have been fooled ourselves into thinking someone else is paying, but they aren't. In both countries, ordinary people pay way more than they think. In Sweden, ordinary people mostly pay for health care through taxes; in the US, ordinary people mostly pay for health care through insurance premiums. (Despite appearances, employers pass premiums on to employees in various ways.)