How to Clean the Eye and instill Eye Drops/Ointment for Children

• Boil tap water and let the water cool. The cooled water can be used for 24 hours. Store in a covered container.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• You can use tissues or cotton wool to clean the eyelids.
• Dip the tissue/cotton ball into the cooled boiled water and clean the eyelids from the nose to the outer corner.
• Only clean one way and discard the tissue. Use a clean tissue/cotton ball on each application.
• Repeat until all discharge is removed. Pay particular attention to the eyelashes.
• Instil ointment/or drops.
• Wash your hands.

How To Use Eye Ointment

• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Lie your child down or tilt head back and ask the child to look up.
• Gently pull down the lower lid to form a pouch. If your child is unco-operative, place your thumb and first finger on the upper and lower lids as close to the lashes as possible. Gently pull the lids apart.
• Hold the tube parallel to the eye to avoid an injury. Squeeze a line of approximately.
• 1/2 cm (1/4 inch) of ointment into the pouch without touching they eyelid or lashes.
• Release the lids and allow the child to blink. Wipe away excess ointment with a tissue.
• Wash your hands.

How To Use Eye Drops

• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Lie your child down or tilt head back and ask the child to look up.
• Gently pull down the lower lid to form a pouch. If your child is unco-operative, place your thumb and first finger on the upper and lower lids as close to the lashes as possible. Gently pull the lids apart.
• Hold the bottle above the middle of they eye and squeeze. Don’t touch the eye with the eye drop bottle.
• Do not instill drop in the corner of the eye nearest the nose (it will go into the tear duct) Instil drop in the middle of the eye.
• Release the lids and allow the child to blink. Wipe away any excess drops with a tissue.
• Wash your hands.

Remember

• Use medication prescribed for your child only.
• If you are using ointment and drops instill drops first.
• If your child has been given a shield ask your doctor when it needs to be worn.

How To Clean The Eye

• Boil tap water and let the water cool. The cooled water can be used for 24 hours. Store in a covered container.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• You can use tissues or cotton wool to clean the eyelids.
• Dip the tissue/cotton ball into the cooled boiled water and clean the eyelids from the nose to the outer corner.
• Only clean one way and discard the tissue. Use a clean tissue/cotton ball on each application.
• Repeat until all discharge is removed. Pay particular attention to the eyelashes.
• Instil ointment/or drops.
• Wash your hands.

How To Use Eye Ointment

• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Gently pull down the lower lid to form a pouch. If your require assistance ask the person giving you the drops to place your thumb and first finger on the upper and lower lids as close to the lashes as possible. Gently pull the lids apart.
• Hold the tube parallel to the eye to avoid an injury. Squeeze a line of approximately

1/2 cm (1/4 inch) of ointment into the pouch without touching they eyelid or lashes.

• Release the lids and allow the child to blink. Wipe away excess ointment with a tissue.
• Wash your hands.

How To Use Eye Drops

• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Lie your child down or tilt head back and ask the child to look up.
• Gently pull down the lower lid to form a pouch. If your require assistance ask the person giving you the drops to place your thumb and first finger on the upper and lower lids as close to the lashes as possible. Gently pull the lids apart.

• Hold the bottle above the middle of they eye and squeeze. Don’t touch the eye with the eye drop bottle.
• Do not instill drop in the corner of the eye nearest the nose (it will go into the tear duct) Instil drop in the middle of the eye.
• Release the lids and allow the child to blink. Wipe away any excess drops with a tissue.
• Wash your hands.

Remember!

• Use medication as prescribed only.
• If you are using ointment and drops instill drops first.
• If you have been given a shield ask your doctor when it needs to be worn.

Advice for the first 24 hours

As you have had sedation do NOT:

• Drive a car
• Make important decisions
• Drink alcohol
• Use machinery
• Travel alone
• Lift heavy objects

Operated Eye

• Please keep dressing dry and leave intact until the following day when you are seen.
• Wear the clear plastic shield at night or when sleeping for 1 week.

For Pain

• Panadeine, Panadol or Panamax – As per package instructions.
• DO NOT take Aspirin or Solprin as this can make your eye bleed.
• If pain is not relieved by Panadeine or Panadol and pain persists please contact your surgeon.

Some Gritty Discomfort, Itchiness and Light Sensitivity is Normal

Post Op Appointment

• Attend your appointment as arranged.
• Please take your eye drops to your appointment.

General information following your eye surgery

Protecting Your Eye

• Avoid bumping, RUBBING or applying pressure to the eye.
• Avoid strenuous exercise & heavy lifting.
• Ladies, avoid wearing loose powder and eye make-up.
• If instructed wear plastic shield for sleeping and showering.

Caring For Your Eye

• You may cleanse the lids and lashes gently with a clean tissue and cooled boiled water.
• Protect your eye whilst washing your face and hair.
• Do not go swimming without your doctor’s approval
• Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors if you wish.
• Be aware your vision in operated eye will have changed so take extra care moving about, especially on stairs.
• Avoid having any loose or slippery mats around your house.
• Applying your drops correctly will aid your recovery and can help prevent complications. Wash hands before instilling eye-drops.
• If ointment is required necessary instructions will be issued.
• You can read and watch TV.

Following Your Surgery

• You may experience some discomfort (grittiness, dull ache).  Take Panadol to provide relief (NO Aspirin, Solprin or Disprin).
• Sometimes you will be asked to take Diamox tablets.
• During the healing process you may experience an itchy sensation; please resist from rubbing or scratching the eye.

General Information

• You may wear your current glasses, although there will be adjustments to these approximately 4-6 weeks after surgery.
• Wait 2-5 minutes between instilling drops (or unless otherwise instructed) instil antibiotics first and close the eye for a few seconds after instilling drops. Application of ointment may cause blurred vision for a short time.  

Relief of Pain

• A low level pain is normal-like a bruised feeling. Paracetamol may be given – 4th to 6th hourly as needed to a maximum of 4 doses daily.
• Severe pain is not normal, so if pain is not relieved with paracetamol please contact your surgeon.

Dressing

• Keep eye shield/dressing on and dry until seen the next day.
• The following day after the dressing is removed the plastic eye shield should be worn at night, to protect the eye if your child rolls over and puts pressure on the eye. In the day, sunglasses may worn to reduce glare both indoors and outside

Diet

• Your child’s stomach will be sensitive from fasting and from the anaesthetic. Try small amounts of food only – no fried food or takeaway food post operatively.
• To resume normal diet tomorrow.
• Report any excessive vomiting.

Urine Output 

• Notify your surgeon if your child has not passed urine within 12 hours post operatively or if you have any concerns regarding output.

Bathing

• Patients may shower/bath as normal after 24hrs, however keep eyes closed and avoid contact of soap or shampoo to the eyes.

Activity/School

• Quiet activities for 1 week: reading, tv, walking, computer puzzles etc.
• No Contact Sports for 2-4 weeks.
• Consult you doctor prior to swimming.
• Avoid sandpits, wind, and heated pools.
• Return to school usually after 1 week.

Medications

• Take Eye drops as directed.

Further Instructions

• Refer to section on how to clean the eye and instill eye drops/ointment.

Relief of Pain

• A low level pain is normal-like a bruised feeling. Paracetamol may be given – 4th to 6th hourly as needed to a maximum of 4 doses daily.
• Severe pain is not normal, so if pain is not relieved with paracetamol please contact your surgeon.

Dressing

• Keep eye shield/dressing on and dry until seen the next day.

Diet

• Your child’s stomach will be sensitive from fasting and from the anaesthetic. Try small amounts of food only – no fried food or takeaway food post operatively.
• To resume normal diet tomorrow.
• Report any excessive vomiting.

Urine Output 

• Notify your surgeon if your child has not passed urine within 12 hours post operatively or if you have any concerns regarding output.

Bathing

• Patients may shower/bath as normal after 24hrs, however keep eyes closed and avoid contact of soap or shampoo to the eyes.

Activity/School

• No Swimming for 1 week.
• Keep quiet tonight.
• Return to school/daycare 1-2 days.

Medications

• Take Eye drops/ointment as directed.

Further Instructions

• Refer to section on how to clean the eye and instill eye drops/ointment.

Relief of Pain

• A low level pain is normal-like a bruised feeling. Paracetamol may be given – 4th to 6th hourly as needed to a maximum of 4 doses daily.
• Severe pain is not normal, so if pain is not relieved with paracetamol please contact your surgeon.

Dressing

• Keep eye shield/dressing on and dry until seen the next day.

Diet

• Your child’s stomach will be sensitive from fasting and from the anaesthetic. Try small amounts of food only – no fried food or takeaway food post operatively.
• To resume normal diet tomorrow.
• Report any excessive vomiting.

Urine Output 

• Notify your surgeon if your child has not passed urine within 12 hours post operatively or if you have any concerns regarding output.

Bathing

• Patients may shower/bath as normal after 24hrs, however keep eyes closed and avoid contact of soap or shampoo to the eyes.

Activity/School

• Quiet activities for 1 week: reading, tv, walking, computer puzzles etc.
• No Contact Sports for 2-4 weeks.
• Consult you doctor prior to swimming.
• Avoid sandpits, wind, and heated pools.
• Return to school usually within a week.

Medications

• Take Eye drops as directed.

Further Instructions

• Refer to section on how to clean the eye and instill eye drops/ointment.
• Discourage your child from rubbing or touching operated eye.
• Use copious amounts of ointment to the operated eye prior to your child going to sleep (wipe off excess with tissue).

Relief of Pain

• A low level pain is normal-like a bruised feeling.
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen may be taken as directed.
• Severe pain is not normal, so if pain is not relieved with prescribed analgesia please contact your surgeon.

Dressing

• If your eye has a dressing on keep eye shield/dressing on and dry until the next day.

Diet

• Fluids and light diet today and tonight.
• Normal diet tomorrow. 

Bathing

• Patients may shower/bath as normal after 24hrs, however keep eyes closed and avoid contact of soap or shampoo to the eyes.

Activity/School

• Quiet activities for 1 week: reading, tv, walking, computer etc.
• No Contact Sports for 2-4 weeks.
• Consult you doctor prior to swimming.
• Avoid, wind, and heated pools.
• Return to work usually within 1 week.

Medications

• Take Eye drops as directed.

Further Instructions

• Refer to section on how to clean the eye and instill eye drops/ointment.

Strabismus Repair

• The ‘white’ of the eye/s that has been operated on will be very red.

This Is Quite Normal. There will be no bruising, but the eyelid area may be swollen.

• The redness may take up to 4 weeks to settle. The redness occurs as a result of the  maneuvering of the muscles attached to the eye.
• You will notice some blood stained ooze/tears from the eye. You can expect some on  the first night and this ooze should gradually stop over the next few nights.

Put a towel over the pillow the first night, to save the pillowslip or put on an old one, because some discharge will end up on the pillow.

• There is usually some pain experienced, especially when moving the eye. You may want to keep your eye closed due to the discomfort.
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen should relieve this discomfort. Keep to the recommended dose and directions. This should encourage normal ‘use’ of the eye. The eye will not be strained
• You may complain of double vision. This should settle in a few days.
• If you have been wearing glasses, check with your surgeon whether  this is to continue.
• If you have been patching one of the eyes before the operation please check with your surgeon on your first visit after the operation whether this is to continue
• Your can bath and have hair washed as normal. Avoid getting shampoo into the eye.
• NO SWIMMING in a pool or at the beach until you have checked with your surgeon.
• Your may go about your normal activities. If you play sport check with your surgeon about the length of time off sport. Usually it is about 2 weeks.

Signs of Infection

• Increased redness.
• Increased green/brown pus like discharge.
• Inflammation.
• Pain.
• Irritability.

Relief of Pain

• A low level pain is normal-like a bruised feeling. Paracetamol may be given – 4th to 6th hourly as needed to a maximum of 4 doses daily.
• Severe pain is not normal, so if pain is not relieved with paracetamol please contact your surgeon.

Dressing

• Nil

Diet

• Your child’s stomach will be sensitive from fasting and from the anaesthetic. Try small amounts of food only – no fried food or takeaway food post operatively.
• To resume normal diet tomorrow.
• Report any excessive vomiting.

Urine Output 

• Notify your surgeon if your child has not passed urine within 12 hours post operatively or if you have any concerns regarding output.

Bathing

• Patients may shower/bath as normal after 24hrs, however keep eyes closed and avoid contact of soap or shampoo to the eyes.

Activity/School

• Keep quiet tonight.
• Return to school/daycare usually the next day.

Medications

• Take Eye drops/ointment as directed.

Further Instructions

• Refer to section on how to clean the eye and instill eye drops/ointment.

What to expect after your procedure

• It is not necessary for your child to wear an eye pad.
• The tear duct area may be pink, this is quite normal and will usually settle in a few days. There may be some blood stained tears for a day.
• You may notice some blood from the nostril. This again is quite normal. This procedure usually does not hurt your child.
• A dose of paracetamol or nurofen post procedure will control any soreness.
• Keep the eyes clean. Continue to clean the eyes with boiled water to remove any discharge.
• Your child may be prescribed antibiotic eye drops and nasal spray for a week following surgery.