Caring for Your Child After Cataract or Other Intraocular Surgery

This will tell you how to care for your child after cataract or other eye surgery. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or nurse. Our staff is here to help.

Medicine

Your child will be given the medicines listed below. These eye drops play a role in helping to prevent infection and help to heal. Start using the drops after your first clinic visit after surgery. Bring your drops with you to your clinic visits. Keep using drops or ointment daily until your doctor tells you to stop. 

_________________drops to be given in the ____________ eye ________ times a day.

Ocuflox® drops to be given in the _______________ eye 4 times a day.

Pred Forte® 1% drops to be given in the ____________ eye 4 times a day.

Atropine® drops to be given in the ____________ eye at bedtime.

It's normal if…

• Your child's eye feels itchy or scratchy.

• The white part of the eye becomes quite red.

• There is some discharge from the eye when the child wakes up in the morning.

• Your child has blurred vision, especially if using ointment.

• Your child has double vision.

Caring for the Eye

Clean drainage from the eye when your child wakes up in the morning. Gently wipe the child's eyelid. Wipe the eye from the inner corner (by the nose) outward, in one direction.

Protect the eye from injury with the metal shield for 10 days. If your child wears glasses, they can be used instead to protect the eye while your child is awake. The shield should be used while your child is asleep or when glasses are not being worn.

Activities

If your child is wearing an eye patch, your child’s balance may be impaired due to lack of depth perception. Use caution and supervise your child on stairs.

Your child may return to school and normal routine 3-5 days after going home.

Your child should avoid things that might pose a risk of infection, irritation, or injury to the eye. 

• Don't play in dirty, dusty places (like a sandbox) for 7 days.

• No rough play or contact sports for 14 days.

• No swimming for 14 days.

Your child may read, watch TV, walk, and do other such quiet tasks.

When to Call 

• Your child's eyelid becomes swollen or if your child complains of loss of vision or severe pain in the eye. Stop giving the eye drops and call your doctor.

• There appears to be bleeding in the iris (colored part of the eye) or pupil (central black circle).

• The eye or eyelid is red and has pus-like discharge lasting all day. Stop using the eye drops and call your doctor.

• Your child has nausea or vomiting. This could be a symptom of increased eye pressure.

Who to Call

UWHC Pediatric Eye Clinic, 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday: (608) 263-6414.

After hours, this number will give you the paging operator. Ask for the "eye resident on-call" and leave your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.

If you live out of the area, call: 1-800-323-8942.

If you are a patient receiving care at UnityPoint – Meriter, Swedish American or a health system outside of UW Health, please use the phone numbers provided in your discharge instructions for any questions or concerns.