Did anyone feel they had to stay with their mom/dad after cataract surgery to ensure their safety moving around?

What was the post-care instructions from the surgeon? Did you go in with your mom to listen to it? I would stay with her, I did with my mom. She got hers done at 89. Are you your mom's medical PoA?

There is a very complicated regimen of eye drops after the surgery. She will need someone to help make sure she is getting it correct. They send you off with a schedule/calendar but the tiny bottles of drops can be easily confused and can be difficult to aim into the eye and hard to squeeze if she has arthritis. If I remember correctly it goes on for about a week or 2 then tapers off.

The patient has to give themselves drops both before and after the surgery and after there are several given and they are given often. Be certain that they are taught how to give them. Whether you should stay or not depends on how the person feels on going home, and how good the vision is in the remaining eye. Your mother being alone and using a walker is not good on ANY level, let alone surgery. There are usually eye shields that have to be removed for drops and on at night. My answer, at this age, with this immobiliity is that yes, someone should be there to do everything for at least a week.

After the initial consultation for surgery, patients likely have blurred vision for a few to several hours afterward, assuming eyes have been dilated.     Staying with someone is advisable.    Vision typically returns to normal by the next day, but it depends on the individual.

Given your mother's difficulty with walking, I wouldn't even consider leaving her alone after the initial consult, but equally as importantly, after the surgery.

As to the actual surgery, in my experience both the surgeon and surgery center require that the patient be accompanied by someone, who stays at the center until the surgery is over, takes the patient home and remains there as long as necessary, frequently overnight.

For my first surgery, my vision was blurry for the rest of the day but began to clear up rapidly the next morning and by noon was back to normal.  Still, I hired transit for the post-op checkup. 

After the second surgery, my vision was clear by the end of the day and I drove myself back the next day for post-surgical checkup.  

This all depends on the individual's eyes, though, as well as other health factors.   Given your mother's walking status, I'd plan on longer stays, especially since she may feel disoriented after the surgery, not b/c of the anesthesia, but just b/c it's intense until it's all over.    It is someone's eyes, and there can easily be a high level of anxiety, especially if someone has difficulty walking.

https://mar-jmedical.com/basic-rollator-purple-31-35-6-wheel-size-60mds86850ep-each/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjp-H5qP46gIVBdbACh0Cjw5vEAQYAyABEgLhg_D_BwE

Another version:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Drive-Medical-Nitro-Euro-Style-Rollator-Rolling-Walker-Red/687353000?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1971&&adid=22222222227338378977&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=440685552477&wl4=pla-943925858084&wl5=9016939&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113134806&wl11=online&wl12=687353000&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjp-H5qP46gIVBdbACh0Cjw5vEAQYBSABEgKDCvD_BwE


Other complications that aren't mentioned:   Anyone who wears glasses won't be able to see with previous glasses, as one eye has been corrected.   There's a choice of keeping that eye closed until the next surgery ( inconvenient and disorienting), then getting new glasses if necessary, or, just not using glasses.  It depends on individual need.  

I was lucky in that my glasses were very old and the lens frame kept self loosening and opened up and the lens fell out.  So I just removed that lens, until I had the second eye done, then I was unable to use the glasses at all.   

Reading glasses could be purchased; my ophthalmologist  gave me a small pair, free until I could get a new pair of read glasses only.

After the second eye has been operated on, the issue of vision is different.   Older glasses won't work, and if the eyes were corrected either for distance or closeup, it may be that one aspect will be stronger than the other. E.g., my distance vision became 20-20 but my close up vision was still poor.   So assistance is needed during that time as well, until new glasses (if necessary) can be purchased.


Other issues:   prior and post op drops.   Multiple drops aren't necessary if the ophthalmologist uses a combined mixture, which mine did.  It contained a blend of the drops, compounded, and in one little bottle, expensive at $50 each but was easier to administer.

Everyone I've spoken with who's used either the multiple bottles or combined ones commented on the sting of the eye drops.   I was told by my ophthalmologist's staff that is unfortunate, but common.  The drops WILL sting.   And my eyes felt kind of scratchy.  

BTW, have you considered a rollator, or wheelchair for her?  A rollator is a LOT safer than a walker. It looks like this

https://mar-jmedical.com/basic-rollator-purple-31-35-6-wheel-size-60mds86850ep-each/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjp-H5qP46gIVBdbACh0Cjw5vEAQYAyABEgLhg_D_BwE

Another version:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Drive-Medical-Nitro-Euro-Style-Rollator-Ro

Ran out of space.  

Addressing the eye drops, find out before surgery whether there will be multiple bottles or one compounded bottle - it's MUCH, MUCH easier with only one bottle.  

Ask also about schedules; my ophthalmologist's office gave me schedules to jot down every time eye drops were administered, a schedule of times, easing off over a 4 week period, and more.  NOTHING was left to chance.  

Make sure that your mom's ophthalmologist provides you with all this information, especially times, duration of use (4x daily, down to 3x daily, then 2x daily, then 1x daily, then, hallelujah you're finished!). 

If you do hire someone and don't stay with her yourself, it would be a 24-7 day for the surgery dates and immediate follow-up, but consider 24-7 for a longer period just b/c of her walking challenges.


Another thought:   Shower and cleaning requirements:  I don't remember them specifically except showering either the night before or day of surgery, with anti-bacterial soap.  The use of antibacterial soap was required post-surgery but I don't recall for how long.

Clothing:   wear a top with short sleeves so she doesn't have to change to a hospital gown.    With short sleeves, the gown can be worn over her clothing and sleeve just pushed up for IV access. 

Medical history will be verified before surgery, so bring that and be prepared.  

BTW, the surgical center wanted me to pre-register by posting medical history online through its so-called portal.  After researching, I learned that the portal was managed by an angel fund focusing on medical information.  It was pretty clear to me that this outfit had an opportunity to leverage patients' medical information, so I refused to use the portal.    The staff backed down and used the history I had provided them myself, and the portal was not used at all.

Any questions?  Just post back.    This is a scary situation until you've been through it once.

Interesting Garden. Especially about that portal which I think u mentioned before.

I love rollators. Love they come with seats. I have seen people pushed around in them. Thats what I am getting when I need a walker.😊