​Is it safe to exercise after cataract surgery?

Your cataract surgery was a success and you’re excited to head back to the gym and return to your exercise routine. But before you do, please keep these few pointers in mind.

While cataract surgery is a very routine procedure, it’s still surgery, and your eyes need time to recover. Not allowing them to do so can cause a delay in your vision returning, as well as other complications that can cause you to lose vision.

The early days

For the first week after cataract surgery, you really need to take it easy. Don’t do any strenuous activities like sprinting or martial arts, and don’t lift any weights heavier than five to 10 pounds. In those first days after cataract surgery, a good way to get yourself moving is a light walk around the neighborhood or on the treadmill.

“Cataract surgery is a great way to improve your lifestyle by getting you clearer vision,” CEENTA Ophthalmologist Veena Rao, MD, said. “To help my patients heal quickly and safely, I always recommend light activity during the first week. You’ll be back before you know it, and this time, you’ll be seeing better!”

As you progress

After about a week, with permission from your doctor, you can go back to most of your regular activities. But, due to continued healing of the eye, you will want to avoid swimming and strenuous lifting for about a month after surgery. Pools, lakes, and the ocean can have lots of infectious agents and you are particularly susceptible to infection during this time.

We’re glad you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and following these guidelines will make sure your cataract surgery heals well and stays that way. If you have any questions, or if any of these restrictions cause a real conflict with your work or lifestyle, don’t hesitate to talk about it with your surgeon.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician. Dr. Rao practices in our Matthews and Monroe offices. To schedule an appointment with her or a cataract surgeon near you, call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.