Post-cataract restrictions

A lot of patients ask me about restrictions after cataract surgery. Sometimes I get some really interesting questions about certain activities! There are many things that I would prefer patients not do after cataract surgery, but there are two big categories that I think about: 1) keeping the eye clean, and 2) keeping the eye intact. Keeping the eye clean involves things like avoiding swimming and dusty/dirty environments. Keeping the eye intact involves avoiding things that could open the cataract wound, which often does not contain a stitch. Rubbing the eye is obviously an activity to avoid with a stitch-free wound, so we usually recommend a protective shield over the eye when sleeping. I also recommend avoiding bending, lifting, and straining after cataract surgery.