Housework to Avoid After Cataract Surgery

The short answer: for the first week after cataract surgery, avoid vacuuming, lifting anything heavy, mopping, dusting, changing bed linen, and leaning over to clean (even cooking is best skipped for the first 48 hours). Chores come back gradually over weeks 2 to 8, once bending and lifting no longer strain the healing eye.

While the recovery period after cataract surgery is relatively short, there are still certain things that you shouldn’t do in the first days and weeks afterward. It can be tempting to rush things, but for the optimal speedy return to full health, you should refrain from actions that put unnecessary pressure on the eye.

Housework is one of these things.

Domestic Chores Can Wait (or get someone else to do them for you)

• Why bending and lifting matter
• The housework chores to avoid after cataract surgery: days 1-7
• The housework chores to avoid after cataract surgery: weeks 2-4
• Getting back to normal: weeks 4-8
• Why you shouldn’t be completely sedentary
• What to do to speed up your recovery

Why bending and lifting matter

The short answer is that you should avoid anything that involves lifting things and/or causing you to bend forwards and downwards.

When you lift anything heavy, you naturally tense many muscles. This has many effects on the body, including raising pressure in the head (known as intracranial pressure, or ICP) and raising blood pressure. You want to avoid this as much as possible, especially during the critical first few days of recovery. Bending downwards or forwards also increases ICP, so should also be avoided.

The housework chores to avoid after cataract surgery: days 1-7

Ladies and gentlemen… This is your chance to truly put your feet up and let someone else do all the chores for you… The first few days after your cataract operation it’s crucial that you don’t put any excess strain on the eye muscles. Bending and lifting not only causes the muscles to strain, it also changes the intraocular pressure and raises the risk of post-op problems.

Therefore, you should avoid the following:

• Strenuous activities, such as vacuuming.
• Lifting heavy objects, such as rubbish bags, bins, etc. Even lifting a full kettle should be avoided for the first 48 hours.
• Using a dustpan and brush, as you’ll likely have to bend down and forward to use it.
• Mopping and dusting where you might be encouraged to bend or lean forward.
• Changing bed linen.
• Leaning over to clean the bath.
• Cooking.

This final one might come as a bit of a surprise, but it’s all to do with avoiding infection. Standing over a hot stove provides airborne elements the opportunity to enter the eye and raises the infection risk. It’s fine to heat something in the microwave or oven, but if you can’t bear not to cook, try to avoid the stove for at least the first 48 hours. After that, be sure to wear your eye shield to help create a barrier.

The housework chores to avoid after cataract surgery: weeks 2-4

After the first week, you can begin to glide gently back towards some household chores. However, you should still avoid anything that makes you bend down or lift anything too heavy. For example, lugging the vacuum cleaner up the stairs or leaning over to scrub the bath is best left a little longer…

Getting back to normal: weeks 4-8

By this time your recovery will be such that you’re raring to go. However, you should still be mindful that your eye won’t yet have completely healed. A little patience at this point will stave off the increased risk of issues, such as a dislocated lens, that might require further intervention. Don’t worry, those pesky household chores will still be ready and waiting in a few weeks.

Why you shouldn’t be completely sedentary

First of all, it’s important to not be completely sedentary during recovery—and that’s even the day after surgery.

Tissue recovery is a complex process, but it depends on receiving the right nutrients that allow it to knit together. These are transported around the body by the bloodstream, and when you don’t move around enough, this slows down.

Additionally, reducing inflammation is a key recovery element. Swelling is made worse by the build-up of fluid, and movement is an important method of helping keep it to a minimum. While you should refrain from extensive physical effort, gentle exercise—walking is a great example—is positively encouraged.

What to do to speed up your recovery

As well as gentle exercise, you should concentrate on the following:

• Eat a healthy and nutritious diet.
• Refrain from alcohol or reduce the level of consumption.
• Follow your surgeon’s instructions to the letter, including cleanliness, taking any medications, and using your eyedrops.
• Attend your follow-up appointments.
• Don’t smoke or vape.
• Use your eyes as normal—watch TV, use a computer, read, and carry out close-up tasks.
• Drink plenty of water.

Taking your recovery seriously is the best thing you can do to ensure a trouble-free and fast return to normality. If you’re at all worried at any point, consult with your ophthalmologist at the earliest opportunity.

Related reading: Showering and Washing Hair After Cataract Surgery and How Soon Can You Travel After Cataract Surgery?.

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