SQUINT SURGERY

The instructions hereunder are prepared to provide general information and advice regarding your eye condition and are designed to provide you with a guide on how to look after your eye. These guidelines on eye care cannot of course be exhaustive and taking these precautions may not prevent complications altogether. However, they serve as a useful guide to you in caring for your eye after an operation; and may help to reduce risks, which could contribute to complications.

EMERGENCIES

If you should experience

  • Significant pain that is not relieved by medication;
  • Severe swelling; or
  • Excessive eye discharge;

Please call KK Women's and Children's Hospital at Tel: 6394 1930 during office hours. After office hours, on Sundays and on Public Holidays, you are advised to seek treatment at Children's Emergency, Basement 1, KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT

  • Remember to keep your appointment with the doctor as follow-up care is crucial in preventing eye complications.

CARE FOR YOUR EYE

  • Keep the eye covered till the next day.
  • Do not apply any eye drops/ointment to the operated eye on the operation day.
  • You advised to bring back the eye drops/ointment for the next day's appointment.
  • The clinic nurse will remove your eye pad the next day.
  • She will clean the eye and instill eye drops/ointment for you. meanwhile, she will show you and your family members how to still the eye drops and advise you on eye care.
  • There may be slight redness and swelling, but this effect will gradually disappear.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

  • Avoid rubbing the eye or apply any pressure on it for six (6) weeks.
  • You may experience blood stained discharge for the first few days - just wipe it off with clean tissues.
  • You may experience double vision initially, but it will gradually reduce as the eyes adjust to their new positions.
  • Mild pain may be relieved by analgesics prescribed to you by your surgeon.
  • Avoid getting soap and water into the eye when you wash your face.
  • You may wash your hair the salon way - by tilting your head slightly backwards. Keep your eyes closed.

POSITIONING

  • You are encouraged to lie in any comfortable position.

MEDICATION

  • Take medication as prescribed.
  • Apply eye drops using the following technique:
    • wash hands before applying the eye drops
    • when your eye feels sticky, use cooled boiled water to gently clean the eyelids with tissue
    • seat yourself comfortably in a supportive chair with your medication beside you
    • shake the bottle, remove the cap
    • hold the bottle, remove the cap
    • hold the bottle close but without touching the lashes
    • tilt your head back, look upwards and pull your eyelid down
    • instill on drop onto your eye
    • close your eye; do not rub your eye
    • wipe off excess eye drops around the eye with a clean tissue
  • Keep eye drops in a cool place.
  • Discard the eye drops one month after opening.
  • If more than one eye drops is ordered for the same eye, wait two to three minutes before instilling the second drop.
  • Always instill eye drops before ointment.

ACTIVITY

  • You are advised to be careful about the eye for at least six (6) weeks.
  • Avoid going to crowded or dusty place.
  • Use sunglasses if you are sensitive to bright light.
  • No swimming for at least one month. After that, you can swim with water-tight goggles.

DIET

  • There are no restrictions on your diet.
  • Take plenty of roughage (e.g. vegetables and fruits like bananas and papayas) to avoid constipation.

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