About four years ago I noticed I was having decreasing peripheral vision. This worried me and I talked to an optometrist about it. After tests, her only comment was that it might be due to my hooded lid, however, no solution was offered. This year I changed to an ophthalmologist and discussed this again. Again, I was told it might be due to the hooded eye but this time I was referred (to Dr. Cox). His office did some more tests. They due a typical peripheral vision test and then do it again with your eyelids taped up. The test showed a 20% difference between my regular vision and the taped up eyelid test. After discussing it with Dr. Cox, I decided to go ahead with the surgery because insurance would also pay a portion and at my age I didn't see this situation improving. Prior to surgery: Ate a lot of spinach, broccoli, and about 1 cup of fresh berries every day - blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and pineapple. Before changing your diet, please discuss with your doctor as medication affects what you should be doing here. You will also need to stop certain OTC medications, vitamins, and perhaps even your prescription meds but talk to your doctor. He/she can tell you exactly what s/he needs you to do. I also take an oral Collagen supplement. About 2 weeks out, I started a 4 session treatment of Celluma. Celluma is an LED light machine that I've used before at my facialist. The goal was to get the under skin layers to produce collagen before this surgery. I had already bought a sleeping pillow wedge. This will help your healing process if you are on your back and elevated. Some people use a recliner (I don't have one). Day before: have some healthy meals prepped for about 2-3 days (salad in a jar, soups, etc...), groceries bought, bedsheets washed, laundry done, and take a shower or bath. I'd drape a towel over your pillow area or recliner in case of blood drip or medication smearing. I'd also recommend you get a lot of books-on-tape (Audible) or download a lot of podcasts as the first 2 days you are pretty much without working vision. You will need someone with you for at least 2 days. I would also suggest taking off from work a minimum of 4. I'm self-employed so that wasn't a problem. After surgery you are not to bend over or do anything strenuous for about a week. Updated on 18 Feb 2019: Day 1: My surgery was early in the morning which is exactly what I wanted. DH works at home so he drove me home afterwards and stayed home all day to change my ice packs. The procedure itself went pretty easily. The check-in was as expected - the IV was in my hand. Once I was actually in surgery, I was konked out for about 2/3rds of it with an IV anesthesia. At the end the doctor wakes you up so he can see you blink and check the eyelids. While he stitches you up, you are awake, but I didn't feel anything and was not uncomfortable. Loved our check out nurse at The Eye Surgery Center. She was great! I have to write that when I came out of surgery I immediately noticed that I had a wider field of vision! Amazing! (as my eyes swelled that of course decreased haha) At home swelling started to set in and we started eye ice packs (with a soft, slightly warm wet washcloth between ice pack and skin) as detailed by the doctor. 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off. Pain at this time was pretty low - it felt like a tension headache right across your eyebrows. There was a little blood seepage - that was expected. Skin felt "tight" and warm to the touch. The most pain occurred if you pressed down on top of the skin so don't touch it! I stayed in bed mostly and kept my head elevated on my pillow wedge with DH reading me a book with an ice pack on my face. Have some tissues on hand to dab up any seeping blood and tears. I also applied an Arnica ointment (NOT on stitches) around the eyebrow, above eyebrow, and around the outside and bottom of my eye. The brand I like is called T-Relief and it can be found at health food stores. Vision is very blurry which is expected due to the ointment and the medication they give you to protect the cornea. Updated on 18 Feb 2019: This was probably when swelling and bruising was the worst. Definitely keep icing as much as you possibly can as it does help with the swelling and the tenderness. Rx Eye ointment twice a day. I decided I didn't need the prescription or OTC pain medication so passed on it. Still using the Arnica ointment. I used Hydrogen Peroxide on a Q-tip to gently clean off the hardened blood on my stitches. Made me much more comfortable. The first 3 days my eyes tired more easily which I kinda expected. Updated on 18 Feb 2019: About Day 9, I finally started seeing some significant reduction in the eyelid swelling and bruising is fading or has faded off. Eyes are feeling "almost" normal (though of course I've still got a ways to go. Photo update of my face before I see the doctor tomorrow for stitches to be removed. Updated on 18 Feb 2019: Not a lot to show you at this point. So I'll check back in at 30 days and show some updated photos. Before doing this surgery, I'd research, read up on the doctor, discuss it thoroughly and know the health risks. This surgery isn't going to make your eye bigger, but it will open up the area around it.
It is not uncommon for an eyelid to get a little droopy after cataract surgery. It is also possible for steroid drops to give you a droopy eyelid but that usually occurs in people that have been on them for a very long time. The vast majority of droopy eyelids after cataract surgery will get better on their own. I would give the lid 4-6 months to improve on its own before considering a simple procedure to lift the lid.
