Cataract surgery. Is help needed for 24 hours after?

[TimeSlipMushroom]

I'm having to support a relative who is having cataract surgery soon and as a single parent with no other family it's a logistical nightmare to sort out childcare, school pick-up, work, pets, taking and collecting from the hospital in the total other direction (1 hour each way) and staying overnight with them as directed by the hospital.

We don't stay over at relatives house for a number of reasons including no spare beds and relative being EXTREMELY particular about everything so usually visit for a few hours.

No other relatives/friends are available and the relative can't stay at mine as they can't manage the stairs. They normally manage everything fine in their own flat.

I've read through what to expect after the surgery. Will my relative really need me there for 24hours??? I cant find a way for it to work at all and be in 2 places at once. Can anyone other advice on their own experiences.

*Offer advice

I got some shopping in for mum and drove her home from the hospital, made her a cuppa and then left her to it

Same here, I needed to drive my Mum home, but she was fine on her own after that

Same her. Made sure she had everything she needed beforehand, drove her home from hospital and just checked in. All good

After surgery I went out for breakfast. Got some funny looks with wearing an eye patch. They only do one eye at a time. I had no issues.

Most cataract surgery is done under local anaesthetic, so as long as your relative can put in their own eye drops afterwards, and avoid housework or heavy lifting, they should be fine on their own.

Uncle was fine going home after his op. Dropped him off and made sure he knew what he was doing with eye drops etc. Just got to be careful bending, lifting, dust etc.

My DM was fine after her op and didn't need any help. She had plenty of food in and was careful about bending down.

Thanks everyone for your replies. This sounds a bit more do-able!

My mum walked to the operation and I picked her up and stayed with her for 30 mins and made tea and sandwich and went back to work. Went back in the evening to check on her -maybe phoned her?

The advice on her leaflet was that the patient should have someone they contact for 24 hours, not directly supervise.

I had my eyes lasered and felt a bit miserable for 24 hours but wanted to be left alone!

Her second eye was slower to recover than the first.

Make sure they have everything they need for 3-4 days as you are not supposed to bend over. And not a good idea to walk or drive for a few days as don't want to get grit in it and driving has obvious implications! But some people can drive the next day.

No DP has had two now and hasn't needed any support or help (I assume considerably younger than your mum) we were able to go to the pub the next day.

He was a bit tired, which I put down to the adrenaline etc but had he lived alone, he would have been totally fine.