Dr Sharma will provide you with specific instructions for your eye. These are general instructions in case you lose your handout. Following surgery, please contact QEI or him directly if you have concerns that are not addressed in your handout.

Keep eyepad on until your appointment

Eye drops to start the day after surgery

  • Start your Steroid drops, Antibiotic drops and other drops you have been prescribed the day after surgery.
  • Wait at least 5 minutes between each medication.
  • Keep your shield on at night time for one week, to prevent accidentally rubbing your eye while sleeping.

Head position after gas or air bubble injection

After vitrectomy surgery, Dr Sharma will advise you of any specific head position and posturing that you may need to do, and for the length of time you may need to do it for. Positioning is only required for certain surgeries.

It is important for the recovery of your eyes to follow the positioning instructions. It is normal that the vision is blurred while the air or gas bubble is present, or if there is oil inside the eye. We will advise you of the number of weeks the bubble stays in your eye.

If you need to keep your head down or to one side, you can straighten your head:

  • To eat
  • To go to the bathroom
  • To receive eye drops

Rental Equipment

There is equipment available to hire to help with your recovery and positioning following vitrectomy surgery – e.g. Summit Support. The rental companies are independent companies and not affiliated with or have any financial links with Dr Sharma or QEI.

It is NORMAL after surgery for your eyes to be:

  • Red
  • Uncomfortable
  • Sensitive to light
  • Teary
  • Some pain – take some panadol or nurofen for the first couple of days

What not to do, till advised by Dr Sharma:

  • Do NOT drive a vehicle
  • Do NOT fly
  • Do NOT do tiring physical activities
  • Do NOT rub your eye
  • Do NOT put pressure on your eye
  • Do NOT lift anything heavier than 5kg
  • Do NOT take Aspirin unless prescribed

Safe to do (while following the positioning instructions):

  • You can go back to normal activities
  • You can walk, bend at the knees, cough, watch TV, read
  • Wear sunglasses when outside
  • You can take a shower 24 hours after operation, but keep eyes closed to keep water and soap out
  • Your wounds will take 4-6 weeks to heal

What to look out for:

Call Dr Sharma at QEI, or go to Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital Emergency Department if you have:

  • Increasing pain in the operated eye, not controlled by drops or tablets
  • A total complete loss of vision
  • Uncontrolled vomiting
  • Increasing swelling
  • A gush of fluid from your eye
  • Pus / discharge throughout the day, not just morning