10 Things to keep in mind after eye surgery: Important warning signs you shouldn’t ignore

Eye surgery can help improve vision and treat many ophthalmic conditions. However, the treatment outcome depends not only on the surgery itself but also on post-operative care and monitoring. In the early days, some symptoms such as eye irritation, tearing, slight redness, or blurred vision may appear and usually subside as the eye recovers.

It is important for patients to know what signs may occur during the healing process and which signs are abnormal and require early medical attention. Each surgical procedure has a different recovery time. Therefore, specific instructions from the treating physician are always preferred. However, there are some common signs that all patients should be aware of.

1. Monitor your eyesight daily.

Vision is one of the most important indicators for assessing the recovery process. After surgery, vision may not stabilize immediately and may sometimes be blurry in the beginning. However, the general trend should be that the eyes gradually feel more comfortable and vision improves in the direction advised by the doctor.

Patients should pay special attention if:

• A sudden or noticeable decrease in vision compared to before.
• My vision was improving, but then it got worse again.
• Dark areas, shadows, or a feeling of a veil appearing before your eyes.
• The image is distorted or abnormally deformed.
• Blurred vision accompanied by pain, redness of the eye, or unusual discharge.

Vision loss after surgery can be related to a variety of causes, including complications that require prompt treatment. Therefore, you shouldn't wait for your vision to worsen instead of improving it.

2. Eye pain: pay attention to its severity and progression.

A gritty, stinging, dry eye, or mild discomfort may occur after some procedures. The severity and duration depend on the surgical method. However, severe or increasing pain should not be ignored.

Patients should pay special attention when:

• Severe pain or rapidly increasing pain.
• The pain did not subside according to treatment guidelines.
• Pain is accompanied by decreased vision.
• Pain accompanied by noticeable redness of the eye.
• Pain accompanied by severe photosensitivity.

If eye pain is accompanied by decreased vision or a rapid deterioration of eye condition, do not wait until your next scheduled appointment.

3. Red eyes: When is it normal? When is it a cause for concern?

After surgery, the eye may be slightly red due to the tissue's reaction to the procedure. Some patients, especially after intraocular procedures, may experience subconjunctival hemorrhage, causing noticeable redness of the white of the eye. However, patients should monitor the trend of eye redness.

If the redness in the eye gradually subsides and the eye feels more comfortable, this is usually a positive development. Conversely, the patient should contact a doctor for examination if:

Eyes become increasingly red → pain increases → vision decreases

This is no longer a symptom to be monitored at home; it could be a sign of infection or other post-operative complications.

Source: Health & Life Newspaper

4. Pay attention to any unusual discharge.

A small amount of tearing or a feeling of wetness in the eyes may occur after surgery. However, if the eyes produce thick, sticky, or purulent discharge, especially if accompanied by redness, pain, or blurred vision, the patient should contact a doctor. Increased discharge along with inflammatory symptoms may be a sign of infection and should be evaluated promptly.

Note: Do not use antibiotics or other eye drops without a prescription.

5. Flies and flashes of light: signs that require special attention.

Some changes in vision may occur after surgery. However, the sudden appearance or rapid increase in new floaters , especially when accompanied by flashes of light, is a sign that needs to be checked.

Patients should also pay attention if they see:

• Numerous black dots or zigzag lines appear suddenly.
• Flashes of light appear in the periphery.
• A dark area appeared in the field of vision.
• It feels like there's a veil or shadow obscuring part of the market.

These symptoms may be related to problems in the retina, including retinal tears or detachment. This is a situation that requires an emergency eye examination and should not be delayed until a regular follow-up appointment.

6. Possible changes after each type of surgery

Not all eye surgeries have the same recovery process. Patients need to know the type of surgery they have had and what symptoms may occur during the post-operative period.

Cataract surgery

After cataract surgery, some patients may experience mild blurred vision, glare, a gritty sensation, or redness in the eyes initially. However, sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, increased redness, or unusual discharge should be checked promptly.

Additionally, if vision decreases after a period of good recovery, patients should contact their doctor instead of assuming it's just a normal change in vision.

LASIK, Femto-LASIK, or SMILE refractive surgery

Following refractive surgery, dry eyes, glare, halos around light sources, or visual fluctuations may occur in the initial period and are usually monitored by the doctor. Patients should contact the treatment facility if they experience unusually increased pain, a significant decrease in vision, redness or unusual discharge, or if new symptoms appear and progress rapidly. Regular follow-up appointments are especially important for the doctor to assess the corneal surface and the recovery process.

Retinal surgery

With surgeries involving the retina, the recovery process can be longer, and care instructions are usually more specific. If the doctor requires maintaining a certain head position, the patient must strictly adhere to it.

Some cases involving the use of intraocular gas or oil also have specific considerations regarding air travel and anesthesia. Patients must consult their doctor before flying after retinal surgery if there is gas in the eye. This is especially important for international patients planning to return home by air.

Glaucoma surgery

After glaucoma surgery, patients need to adhere to the intraocular pressure check schedule and use medication exactly as prescribed. Eye pain, decreased vision, excessive redness, or any other unusual symptoms that appear after surgery should be reported to the doctor. Do not self-adjust glaucoma medication based solely on subjective feelings.

7. Monitor for other unusual changes.

In addition to vision problems, eye pain, and redness, patients should also pay attention to changes such as:

• Swelling of the eyelids is increasing rapidly.
• Increased sensitivity to light.
• Excessive tearing.
• Pain when moving the eyes.
• Systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or nausea may accompany abnormal eye conditions.

These symptoms don't always indicate serious complications, but if they appear suddenly or progress rapidly, patients should inform their doctor instead of self-treating.

8. Follow your scheduled follow-up appointments, even if your eyes are asymptomatic.

A common mistake is only seeking medical attention when you feel you have eye problems. In reality, follow-up appointments after surgery allow doctors to check the healing process and detect changes that patients may not be aware of themselves.

Depending on the type of surgery, the doctor may check vision, the condition of the surgical wound, inflammatory reactions, the cornea, the retina, or other indicators such as intraocular pressure. Follow-up appointments vary for all types of surgery and should be scheduled as directed by the treating physician.

9. Do not change the way you use eye drops without consulting a doctor.

After surgery, patients may be prescribed one or more types of eye drops. Each type has a different purpose and duration of use.

For international patients, please note the following:

• Do not stop taking medication on your own even if you feel your eyesight has improved.
• Do not increase or decrease the number of times you apply the drops on your own.
• Do not use other people's eye drops.
• Do not buy additional medication to treat new symptoms on your own.

When using multiple types of eye drops, patients should ask their doctor or healthcare professional for clarification on the order of use and the intervals between doses. If any unusual symptoms appear while using the medication, discuss them with your doctor to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.

If international patients have difficulty reading medication names or instructions in Vietnamese, they should request that the treatment facility provide instructions in English or a suitable language before leaving Vietnam.

Source: Health & Life Newspaper

10. Protect your eyes during recovery.

During the post-operative period, patients need to limit actions that could injure or contaminate the eye. Depending on the type of surgery, the doctor may request:

• Do not rub or press your eyes.
• Wash your hands before applying eye drops or touching the area near your eyes.
• Use eye protection when prescribed.
• Avoid direct contact of water or dirt with the eyes as directed by your doctor.
• Limit strenuous physical activity during the recommended period.
• Do not resume activities such as swimming, sauna, or sports without permission.

The time limit for each procedure varies between different surgical methods. Therefore, patients should ask their doctor for clarification instead of applying a single timeframe to all cases.