Your Recovery

You have had eyelid surgery, where the doctor made small incisions in your eyelid to perform the procedure.

After surgery, your eyelid may feel tight and sore. You might experience watery, dry, sticky, itchy, or sensitive eyes. Blurry vision for a few days is also common. Your doctor will provide medications to help manage pain and discomfort.

It's crucial to keep your eyelid clean and avoid rubbing it. Follow your doctor's instructions on how to properly clean and care for your eye.

If your doctor used removable stitches, they will be taken out in 5 to 10 days. Expect swelling and bruising around your eyelid for 1 to 3 weeks after surgery. The appearance of your eye will continue to improve over the next 1 to 3 months.

Most people feel ready to resume public activities and return to work within 10 to 14 days. This timeline may vary depending on your job and personal comfort with the visibility of your surgery. Some bruising around your eyes might persist even after 2 weeks.

If you had surgery for a droopy eyelid (ptosis), you might notice that your eyelid doesn’t lower as much when you look down, or that it doesn’t fully close when you sleep. If this happens, inform your doctor. They may recommend using eye drops or gels to keep your eye moist.

For the first few weeks, your eye will be swollen. Once the swelling subsides, you’ll be able to see the changes in your appearance.

This guide provides a general recovery timeline, but individual recovery times can vary. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth recovery.

How to Care for Yourself at Home

Activity

• Rest when you feel tired. Adequate sleep is essential for recovery.

• Keep your head elevated for several days after surgery. Use 2 or 3 pillows to sleep with your head raised.

• Drink plenty of fluids, unless your doctor advises otherwise.

• Consult your doctor about when you can resume driving.

• Limit activities that strain your eyes, such as reading, computer work, and watching TV for the first few days.

• Avoid wearing contact lenses for about 2 weeks or until your doctor approves.

• Do not wear eye makeup for 2 weeks. You may also want to avoid face creams or lotions.

• You can shower or wash your hair the day after surgery, but keep water, soap, shampoo, hairspray, and shaving lotion out of your eye, especially during the first week.

• Avoid rubbing or putting pressure on your eye for at least 2 weeks.

• Do not colour or perm your hair for 10 days after surgery.

• Avoid bending over or engaging in strenuous activities like biking, jogging, weightlifting, or aerobic exercise for 2 weeks or until your doctor gives the okay.

• Avoid swimming, hot tubs, gardening, and dusting for 1 to 2 weeks.

• Wear sunglasses on bright days for 1 year after surgery.

Medicines

• Follow your doctor’s advice on when to resume your regular medications. They will also provide instructions for any new medications.

• If you stopped taking aspirin or other blood thinners, your doctor will tell you when to start taking them again.

• Follow your doctor’s instructions on using eye drops and antibiotic ointment. Always wash your hands before applying eye drops. To apply eye drops:

  • Tilt your head back and pull your lower eyelid down with one finger.

  • Drop or squirt the medicine inside the lower lid.

  • Close your eye for 30 to 60 seconds to allow the drops or ointment to spread.

  • Avoid touching the ointment or dropper tip to your eyelashes or any other surface.

• Adhere to your doctor’s instructions for taking pain medications.

Incision Care

• If you have a bandage on your eye, wear it for as long as your doctor recommends.

• Keep the incision area clean and dry.