Recovery is an essential part of any surgery. Your patients need to rest and recuperate so that their bodies can heal. Try these tips to help your patients get the most from their recovery period after eye surgery.
Plan with Your Patients
Your patients want to go home after an eye surgery. Even if they stay in your clinic for a short period, they won’t necessarily have the energy to discuss recovery advice.
Try making recovery plans with your patients before the actual date of the surgery. They should already know what they need to do to keep symptoms down, when their next follow-up appointment is, and what actions to avoid while their eyes heal. You may also want to ensure that they will not be driving home after their surgery.
Use Steroids Wisely
Steroids are a popular and effective way to reduce eye inflammation after surgery. However, incorrect steroid dosing can cause its own set of side effects that make recovery more difficult. Calling your patients in for multiple steroid injections is time-consuming, expensive, and not always a reliable way to measure steroid exposure.
Instead, look for single-dose cataract surgery steroids that will keep inflammation symptoms down for an extended period of time. Your patients won’t have to come in so often after surgery, and you can be sure that their eye inflammation symptoms stay down.
Have an Aftercare Packet
Your patients might not remember their surgery aftercare instructions. Print your recommendations out so that patients and family members can refer to them as needed.
Along with the packet, you should also consider putting together a small care bag with things like disposable sunglasses, eye drops, and even a small treat that will make your patients feel appreciated. All forms of surgery are stressful, and little details can do a lot to help your patients feel like their doctor has everything under control.
Follow Up with Your Patients
As a doctor, following up is the most important thing you can do to assist with your patients’ recovery. Your patients will have questions that arise in the hours and days following surgery, but they won’t always feel comfortable calling you to ask. If you call them instead, they’ll have a chance to address their concerns, and you’ll create an added sense of community and trust.
Don’t forget to schedule multiple follow-up appointments in the month after a patient’s surgery. Even if they don’t feel any symptoms, their recovery might not go smoothly. Help keep everything on track with a few scheduled visits that will catch small problems before they become big issues.
As a medical professional, you understand how long your patients need to recover after eye surgery. Keep an eye on them and help them stay relaxed, and they will end up feeling amazing on the other side.
