Three Ways for Home Health Care to Help After Eye Surgery
Your dad may need eye surgery if he suffers from cataracts, a retinal detachment, or other eye issues that occur with aging. If his eyelids are sagging and affecting his vision, he may need to have the skin on the eyelids pulled up in a surgical procedure. If he has to undergo eye surgery, talk to his doctor about having home health care to help him recover.
For some people, recovery after this type of surgery goes well. Your dad may need only a few days of home health care. There are things that skilled nurses can do that you may find hard to manage on your own. Here are three ways home health care nurses help.
Administering Medications
Home Health Care Arlington, VA: Seniors and Eye Surgery
Your dad may need to be on IV antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, pain medications, or prescription eye drops. There’s no way you’ll be able to manage the IV without home health care. Nurses can also help with any prescription eye drops if you struggle to administer them.
Wound Care
At first, your dad may have dressings over his eyes. Nurses can check the dressings for unexpected bleeding or drainage. If present, it can be a sign of a complication that nurses and doctors need to address.
After the dressings come off, your dad will be wearing an eye patch or eye shield while his eyes heal. You should ask the nurse to show you how they go on. Your dad needs to wear them to prevent accidental injury to his eyes until they’re fully healed.
Educational Benefits
Once the incisions have healed, home health care nurses may no longer be needed. It’s still important for family members to get some education on what to watch for and expect as your dad continues to heal.
The nurse can teach you how to put in eye drops that help his eyes heal. You can learn what to watch for and how to help your dad keep his eyes safe with sunglasses and eye patches. The nurse can also teach you what side effects are expected and when to alert a doctor to a reaction or complication.
If you know your dad will need home health care to support him while recovering from eye surgery, call an agency. It’s best to get the plan in place as soon as you know so that everyone understands the care plan and is ready for his return from the hospital.