When can I shower and wash my hair after cataract surgery?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says you can shower the day after surgery, but take care to keep the stream of water from hitting your eye directly. MedlinePlus adds that you should avoid getting soap and water in the eye for the first few days while bathing or showering. Neither source treats a normal shower as dangerous, as long as the eye stays dry.

Hair washing is the tricky part, because the usual head down position collides with another rule. AAO says that during the first 48 hours it is important not to bend over or put your head below your waist, since that raises eye pressure and can interfere with healing. The easy fix is to lean back instead of forward, use a shower with your face out of the spray, or have someone rinse your hair for you at a sink.

For the face, a damp washcloth around the eye is usually enough in the first days. Do not scrub the eyelid, do not rub the eye, and keep shampoo, conditioner, and face wash away from the lash line. AAO also advises holding off about a week on warm compresses and lid scrubs if you normally use them for dry eye.

Showers are not the same as pools, hot tubs, lakes, or the ocean. Those carry a much longer wait because of infection risk. Follow the written instruction sheet from your operating surgeon, which overrides this general guidance.