How Soon Can You Travel After Cataract Surgery?
- Posted on: Oct 27 2019
Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most routine procedures performed today. But like any surgery, there are certain precautions to take before and afterward to ensure your safety and well-being.
If you have travel plans after your scheduled cataract surgery, or if you are thinking of traveling shortly after your procedure, you may question whether it is safe to do so.
Dr. Gregory Pamel explains how soon you can travel after cataract surgery in this post.
Driving After Cataract Surgery
You will not be able to drive yourself home from cataract surgery because the surgery requires anesthesia. It will take time for the effects of the medicine to wear off.
You can resume driving as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. Most patients find that their vision improves significantly 24 hours after surgery and they feel confident safely getting behind the wheel.
If Dr. Pamel makes a specific recommendation for you regarding when to resume driving after surgery, you should follow these instructions. He may advise you to wait a little bit longer before getting behind the wheel, just to be safe.
If you are planning an overnight road trip, be sure to pack your eyedrops, any other medications prescribed by Dr. Pamel and your eye shield to protect your eyes as you sleep.
Flying After Cataract Surgery
There are no safety risks to flying after cataract surgery. The altitude and pressure inside an airplane cabin will not harm your eyes.
Air travel can dry out your eyes, though, so you will want to pack some eye drops in your carry-on luggage. Don’t forget your other medications and your eye shield.
Follow Up With Dr. Pamel After Cataract Surgery
The biggest consideration regarding travel after cataract surgery is whether your plans will interfere with your follow-up care.
Expect to visit Dr. Pamel’s office the day after your cataract surgery and again five to eight days after surgery. During these visits, Dr. Pamel will evaluate your eyes to ensure they are healing properly. He will also look for any signs of complications.
Of course, our office is very accommodating of our patients’ needs and will work with you to schedule these visits around your travel plans as best we can.
Contact Pamel Vision and Laser Group Today
For more information about cataract surgery or post-operative care, please contact Pamel Vision and Laser Group today. We would be happy to answer your questions or address your concerns over the phone, via email or in person.
Posted in: Cataract Surgery
