Exercising After Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery involves removing the eye’s cloudy lens and replacing it with an intraocular artificial lens. After your surgery, you’ll need to allow some time for the eye to heal, which will include avoiding activities that could cause strain or pressure.
Since certain movements can interfere with your eye’s healing, it’s important to take some caution when getting back to your normal exercise routine. In this blog, we’ll discuss what to expect and how you can slowly get back into exercise after cataract surgery.
If you’re concerned about cloudy or blurry vision, please contact our team at Valley Eye Specialists to discuss booking an eye assessment.
Managing your activity levels in the first few days after cataract surgery
Straight after cataract surgery, your eye will need time to settle. You may experience some blurriness, light sensitivity, or a scratchy sensation in the eye, but this usually improves within a few days.
During this initial period, it’s important to avoid any activity that could increase eye pressure, such as bending over, heavy lifting, or any sudden movements that could put a strain on your eye.
Even light exercise, such as walking, should be done carefully at this stage. While short walks around your home or garden are usually fine, anything that involves too much movement or risk of jarring the eye should be avoided.
If you’re unsure about what specific activities to avoid, your ophthalmologist will give you advice based on your own recovery process. You’ll also have check-up appointments with your ophthalmologist after your procedure so that they can assess the progress of your eye’s healing, so it’s a good idea to ask any questions you may have during your appointment.
Beginning to resume light activity
After the first few days, you may start feeling more comfortable. Most people will be able to do some light walking after about a week, as long as they avoid anything too strenuous.
Still, any exercise that involves straining, bending down, or rapid head movements should be avoided, as these can all increase pressure in the eye. If you usually go to the gym, this isn’t the time to jump back into your usual workouts just yet.
Longer-term avoidance of anything that involves lifting weights or high-impact movements, like running or aerobics, is recommended.
Even something as simple as yoga can be an issue if it involves inverted poses that put your head below your heart, as this can increase eye pressure.
So, within the first few weeks after your cataract surgery, it’s best to take it slow and begin with light walking before gradually increasing your activity levels.
When to return to more intense exercise
Essentially, most people will need to wait for at least a few weeks before returning to more intense forms of exercise.
The exact timing will depend on how well your eye is healing and the advice from your ophthalmologist. Activities such as cycling, swimming, and jogging will usually require more time before they can be resumed.
Swimming, in particular, is something that needs to be avoided for at least two weeks, as water can introduce bacteria to the eye. This increases the risk of infection, which should be avoided while the eye is still healing.
If you’re involved in contact sports, such as football or boxing, you’ll need to wait even longer before getting back into them. Any direct impact to the eye while it’s healing could cause complications, so it’s important to follow your ophthalmologist’s advice on when it’s okay to return.
Signs to step back and take it slower
Even if you’re following the general guidelines, it’s important to listen to your body as you return to exercise after cataract surgery.
If you notice any discomfort, increased redness, or changes in vision after increasing your activity levels, it’s best to take a step back and give your eyes more time to heal. Blurred vision or increased sensitivity to light after exercising can sometimes indicate that the eye is being strained.
If these signs do show, we recommend to check in with your ophthalmologist. Even after your eye feels better, it’s still healing internally, so taking a cautious approach will help prevent any setbacks or make sure that any issues are treated promptly.
Making a full return to your normal exercise routine
For most people, it will take a few weeks to fully return to their normal exercise routine, but this will always depend on individual healing.
Once you’ve been cleared to resume more activities, it’s still a good idea to ease back in gradually, rather than going straight back to high-intensity workouts.
If you want to lift weights again, start with lighter resistance and build up over time. High-impact exercises, such as running, should also be reintroduced slowly, paying attention to any signs of strain in the eye. While it can be tempting to jump straight back into full workouts, taking it slow will help ensure your eye continues healing without any issues.
Overall, giving your eye the time it needs to recover will help you return to your normal activities as soon as possible.
Valley Eye Specialists: See an Experienced Ophthalmologist in Brisbane
If you think you have a cataract and may need cataract surgery, choosing an experienced ophthalmologist is key to getting the proper care throughout the process, including having a supportive and well-informed recovery.
A consultation will allow you to discuss any concerns you have, including how to manage your recovery and when you can return to exercise. You can receive personalised recovery instructions with steps that consider how your surgery was performed and what you may need as an individual.
At the Valley Eye, our experienced ophthalmologists are trained to provide both routine and urgent care for a range of eye conditions, including cataracts.
Cataract procedures are often performed as a day surgery, at either at Brisbane Day Surgery in Spring Hill or at North West Private Hospital in Everton Park.
To arrange your consultation and have a comprehensive eye assessment, please get in touch with our team.