Embarrassing Illnesses

After having corrective eye surgery, your child may have a sore eye for a few days. The pain can be treated using simple painkillers, such as paracetamol. Children under the age of 16 should not be given aspirin.

Your child will not have to wear a patch or bandage and can return to daily activities, such as reading, as soon as they feel able to. The aim is to get the eyes working normally as quickly as possible.

Advice following corrective eye surgery

Follow the advice below when your child gets home after an eye operation.

• Your child may not feel like eating but they should drink water at regular intervals.
• Your child may complain of double vision. This usually resolves itself over a few weeks.
• The stitches can take up to six weeks to dissolve and your child may feel like there is a bit of grit in their eye. Encourage them not to rub it.
• Avoid any soap or shampoo getting into their eye for two weeks.
• Your child will need to go back to the eye specialist for regular follow-up visits.

If your child wore glasses before the operation, it is likely that they will have to continue to wear them.

Your child should be able to return to school or nursery after about four days.

They should avoid swimming for at least a month after the operation and most other sports for two weeks.