POST-SURGERY PLANNING
Preparing For Life After OOKP Surgery
Preparing For Life After OOKP Surgery
Undergoing OOKP surgery is a major mile stone in your life — and what preceedes your surgeryr is just as important. Planning your post-surgery life, helps you manage day-to-day routines, stay emotionally grounded, maintain social connections, and navigate your work or training goals.
This page brings together practical planning ideas and lived-experience advice alongside emotional, physical, social, and employment considerations. It’s designed to help you think ahead, set realistic steps, and feel more prepared for the months after surgery.
After surgery your body needs time to heal and adapt — and organisation helps that process go more smoothly.
Your surgeon and clinical team are experienced in post-surgery routines and will tell you:
How to use prescribed eye drops and medications consistently
What physical activities to avoid or limit
When to attend follow-up appointments
Following these instructions closely supports healing and helps prevent complications.
Some practical physical planning ideas are:
Keep your medications, eye drops, and care supplies in one central place, so when completing your routine, you're not searching for equipment and risking the chance of infection.
Limit strenuous activities and heavy lifting at first. Such activities can place excessive pressure on the eye, which could damage the intricate surgery performed
Take gentle walks or light movement as advised by professionals to support energy and mood. This allows blood circulation, necessary to help the healing process
Plan for regular, restful sleep and a calm recovery environment. Sleep is probably the least respected form of healing, but this is the time when your body makes the necessary adjustments to help your body recover.
Recovery after surgery isn’t just physical — it’s emotional too. Many people find:
Talking to supportive friends, family or our members, helps reduce stress, so aiding recovery
Gentle hobbies or distractions — like audiobooks, art, or music — can lift spirits. Check out our tutorial video section for some ideas.
Practising mindfulness or simple breathing exercises supports emotional balance. Again, check out our tutorial videos, or the Wellbeing sections of our newsletters, for practical instructions.
Members have shared that setting small, meaningful goals each day — like a short walk, a phone call with a friend, or a moment of fresh air — gives them a sense of purpose and progress. So remember, you’re not alone. Emotions after surgery are valid and normal, and support is available if you need it. Simply reach out to us via email, telephone or WhatsApp chat and we can help.
It has been found, social engagement can significantly improve your recovery experience and reduce feelings of isolation. Simply chatting to someone who understands, allows you to gain the knowledge to improve confidence and achieve more.
✔ Arrange regular catch-ups with friends or support buddies like our members
✔ Join online/in-person support groups to share experiences.
✔ Maintain family routines where possible
Connections with others — even through simple messages or calls — help keep you grounded and motivated. They allow you to progress at your own pace, while preventing you from becoming over analytical if your progress wains a little.
Recovery timelines vary from person to person, and it’s important to approach work and training thoughtfully. Try and consider:
whether you need a phased return to work
discussing part-time or flexible hours with your employer
exploring training or new skill development opportunities if your goals have shifted
Setting realistic milestones — rather than trying to rush back — can help you balance recovery with your longer-term goals. Planning ahead with your employer or training provider makes the transition smoother and recognises your well-being first.
There are many daily routines people endulge in. To cover everyone here would be impossible, but here's some practical ideas members have found useful:
Meal preparation: Cook and freeze simple meals before surgery so they’re easy to access during recovery. Home
Home setup: Place everyday items within easy reach to reduce strain and frustration.
Reminders: Set alarms or use apps to help you track medications or appointments.
Accessible aids: Consider mobility or visual aids if needed, such as talking apps, magnifiers, or tactile labels. Take a look at our tutorial video section for more information.
These small practical steps make everyday life easier while your body and mind heal. They reduce frustration, increase your confidence and prove to yourself, with a little knowledge, you can achieve many of the tasks sighted people achieve. Remember, it's not that we can't do a task, it's just that we have a different way of getting the desired results. Our members have spent hours discovering these different ways, so you don't have to, you just need to ask us.
Sometimes planning feels overwhelming — and that’s OK. We’re here to help. If you’d like peer support, personalised planning ideas, or someone to talk things through with, reach out to us:
Subject Line: Post-op support
Our peer-led team and volunteers can help you with:
emotional support planning
practical day-to-day ideas
social integration and connection
employment/training discussion and encouragement
We aim to respond within 2–3 working days and will match you with the right support for your needs.
While waiting, why not check out our website. We may already have the answer waiting for you. This website is continually being updated, as members send in their discoveries, so take a tour and see wha would be of help to you.
Some people find it helpful to connect with services in their community, such as:
social care support services for rehabilitation and daily living assistance
support groups for people adjusting to life after surgery
occupational therapy or rehabilitation specialists if needed
National charities dealing with sight loss
If you’re unsure where to start, just ask us — we can help point you in the right direction.
Planning doesn’t mean knowing everything ahead of time. It means creating flexible support, preparing where you can, and building routines that meet your needs.
Create a routine, then check it provides the results you need. If not, don't despare, simply add or subtract more detailed steps and check again. Within a short period of time, you'll find, you have the ideal routine, which provides the desired results, in the minimum of time, and eliminates confusion and frustration.
We’re here to support you every step of the way — emotionally, socially, physically, and in your goals for work or training.
💙 Let’s plan your recovery with confidence, compassion, and real-world support.