A week off for cataract surgery?

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I am going to be having a laser cataract removal. My job is very stressful and I need a week off to relax and recover. However, I heard that after you have laser cataract removal you can get right back to work. No thanks. Do you think the doctor will write me an order so I can take a week off? Thanks;)

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
I am going to be having a laser cataract removal. My job is very stressful and I need a week off to relax and recover. However, I heard that after you have laser cataract removal you can get right back to work. No thanks. Do you think the doctor will write me an order so I can take a week off? Thanks;)

Sorry, kiddo. I was back to work the next day. ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO GET A WEEK OFF> ENJOY YOUR NEW EYES!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

If your doctor is willing to write you a medical excuse to get you out of work when you don't really need it, that says he is an unethical doctor and I would hesitate to go to him.

If you need "mental health days," then either use vacation time like the rest of us ... or visit a mental health professional to be properly treated and perhaps a valid written excuse from work.

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Thanks all. I just got back from the doctor. I told him I was worried about all the heavy lifting and bending over. I'm suppose to work 8 hours a day but I sometimes get stuck for 10-12 hours pushing and pulling a very heavy med cart. Plus I'm old-age 54. Anyway, I lucked out and have a week off.;)

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Sorry, kiddo. I was back to work the next day. ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO GET A WEEK OFF> ENJOY YOUR NEW EYES!

So much for not giving medical advice. One person's experience with a surgery, as we all know as nurses, does not guarantee that another person will have the same experience. The post should have been flagged by admin, because the length of time needed off from work post-op is determined only by the physician and the patient-- not other folks with similar experiences.

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Having taken care of post op cataract patients in the past, one of the main things we taught was to avoid activities that can cause intraocular pressure:

Straining with stools.

Avoid bending at the waist.

Avoid heavy lifting.

No sex for a week.

A week off for a nurse, sounds quite appropriate to me. For someone with a job with minimal physical exertion, I could see them possibly not needing time off. I'm sure not questioning this doctor's ethics for wanting a patient to have a week off following eye surgery.

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Thanks all. ;)I didn't make it clear in my 1st thread posting about all of the physical exertion required at this job. All I mentioned was the stress, so I can see why folks thought I could return to work much sooner. Anyway, it will be nice to be able to see good again.

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Specializes in ER.

If you need surgery darn it, take the week off! Anything with an OR stay is a week in my book, anything with a general and intubation- a month, at least!

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Specializes in Peds, ER/Trauma.

I had eye muscle surgery last year- I was intubated, had general anesthesia, and had internal sutures behind my eyeballs. I was off of work for a week, and then had lifting restrictions for a month, BUT my surgery was a LOT more involved than laser surgery, and there was a risk of me popping a suture behind my eye if I lifted too soon..... :eek:

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