Enucleation UHN. For patients going home after surgery

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1 Enucleation UHN For patients going home after surgery Read this pamphlet to learn about: How to take care of yourself at home How to cope with pain What to do in case of an emergency Please visit the UHN Patient Education website for more health information: University Health Network. All rights reserved. This information is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only. Authors: Katherine Kirner and Bruna Curti Created: 04/2016 Form: D-8620

2 What is enucleation? Enucleation is a surgery that involves removing the eye. You had enucleation because other treatments were not suitable to treat your condition. The surgeon replaced the eye with a ball implant (artificial eye) and attached the eye muscles to it. What can I eat and drink after my surgery? You can go back to eating and drinking what you normally would after surgery. Slowly start by having fluids and soups on the day of the surgery. Then, return to your normal meals the next day. If you feel nauseated (sick to your stomach) or you are vomiting, you can get anti-nausea medicine such as Gravol. You can buy it from your pharmacy without a prescription. Follow the directions on the package of the anti-medicine medicine and drink liquids until the nausea stops. Then slowly start to eat your usual meals again. How much activity is safe? When you go home, rest on the first day. The next day, you can slowly increase your activity level. Do not do exercises or activities that use a lot of energy until your surgeon tells you it is safe. Examples include: jogging cycling swimming aerobics 2

3 When can I go back to work? If you have an indoor job, you can return to work after a week. If you have an outdoor job, you can return to work after 3 weeks. Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe to return to work. Can I travel by airplane? Your surgeon will let you know when it is safe to travel by airplane. It is usually safe to travel 3 days after your surgery. When can I take a shower or bath? You can take a bath or shower after your first follow-up visit 48 to 72 hours after the surgery. However, do not put your head directly under the water until 3 weeks after your surgery. Always use a clean washcloth and tap water to clean around your eyelashes or the corners of the eye that was removed. When you shower or wash your hair, keep your eyelids closed to keep water and soap out of your eye. Do not use store bought eye washes. 3

4 How do I care for my eye? The bandage put on your eye at the end of the enucleation surgery should stay in place until you see your surgeon 48 to 72 hours after your surgery, even it shows a tinge of blood on it. Wear protective or dark sunglasses after that until you meet with your ocularist 5 to 6 weeks after your surgery to fit you with your custom-made prosthesis. How do I cope with my eye pain? It is normal to have pain after this surgery. The pain should get better gradually in a few days. You are given a prescription for a strong pain medicine, if you feel severe pain. Follow your surgeon s instructions for taking it. If you do not have severe pain, you can just take your regular over-thecounter pain pills. Allows follow the instructions on the bottle. What if I get constipated? Pain medicine can make you constipated. If you have two or less bowel movements a week or if you have trouble having a bowel movement then you are constipated. To prevent constipation: Drink 3 to 5 glasses of water every day (each glass should be about 8 ounces) Eat foods that are high in fibre (such as bran and fruit) If you have not had a bowel movement for 3 days, take 30 ml of Milk of Magnesia. You can buy this from your pharmacy without a prescription. 4

5 When will I have a follow-up visit? Your follow-up visit is usually 48 to 72 hours after your surgery. Will I have to put in eye drops? Your surgeon will prescribe specific eye drops or ointment for you in your follow-up visit (48 to 72 hours from surgery). If you notice any of these symptoms, call your nurse or doctor or go to your local emergency department: Sudden increase in pain High fever and chills Who do I contact for more information? Princess Margaret Cancer Centre 610 University Avenue Ocular Oncology Clinic 18th Floor Toronto, ON M5G 2M9 Phone: ext Princess Margaret Locating if you need more help Phone: If you have any questions about your surgery, talk to your ophthalmologist. 5