How to Walk & Hike After Cataract Surgery

Cataracts will cloud your vision, making it hard to see. If the clouding begins to seriously obstruct your vision, you may need cataract surgery. The surgeon will remove the clouded lens and insert a new, artificial lens into your eye, according to the Mayo Clinic. Since the surgery is usually on an in-patient basis and will last for less than an hour, the recovery period is very short. You should be able to start walking the day after your surgery.

Instructions

• 1

  Take it easy on the day of the surgery. While the procedure is short, your eyes can hurt afterward. Rather than going on a walk right away, spend the rest of the day relaxing to let your eyes recover.

• 2

  Go for easy walks during the first week following your surgery. Keep on level ground rather than walking on an incline or decline. Avoid a strenuous walk and instead aim for a stroll around the neighborhood.

• 3

  Begin going on tough hikes after the one week period following the surgery. You can now do strenuous physical activity and can hike both up and down a steep incline.

• 4

  Choose a hiking area with a lot to look at. Your eyes will heal better if you can focus on objects that are close to you, about ten feet away, and far from where you're walking. A hike through a wooded area follows these conditions well.

• 5

  Go for regular hikes several times a week to improve your vision through the healing process. Not only do hikes help your vision, but they also improve your health overall.