Eye Surgery / Enucleation Aftercare Instructions
A day-by-day recovery guide for eye surgery / enucleation: what to expect, how to care for yourself, and when to call. Free to read and print.
Eye Surgery / Enucleation recovery, day by day
Eye Protection
- E-collar is absolutely critical. Do NOT remove it for any reason.
- Eye drops/ointment as prescribed. Follow the exact schedule.
- Keep your pet in a dim, quiet room to reduce eye strain
- No rubbing, scratching, or pawing at the eye/face
Healing
- Continue all eye medications exactly as prescribed
- Check for excessive tearing, squinting, or cloudiness
- Activity restriction: avoid rough play that could impact the face
- Recheck at 7-14 days
When to call your provider or 911
- •Excessive bleeding from the incision that doesn't stop
- •Incision opens, separates, or has pus/foul odor
- •Your pet is extremely lethargic or unresponsive
- •Persistent vomiting or diarrhea for more than 12 hours
- •Difficulty breathing or blue/pale gums
- •Refusal to eat or drink for more than 24 hours after surgery
- •Collapse or inability to stand
- •Eye appears to bulge or pupil looks different
- •Sudden vision loss or bumping into things
- •Squinting or holding the eye shut
When in doubt, call your clinic. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Recovery milestones
- Day 5
Initial healing
Swelling reduced, eye/socket clean
- Day 14
Recheck
Vet evaluates healing progress
- Day 14
Expected recovery
Eye/socket typically healed, medications finished; contact us if the site still looks unhealed.
For clinics
Stop photocopying aftercare sheets.
QR Rx sends this exact eye surgery / enucleation recovery plan to every patient, branded to your practice, opened by a QR code. It checks in automatically, answers post-op questions, asks for a review at the right moment, and brings patients back for their next visit. The aftercare you already owe every patient, doing the work of keeping them.
HIPAA compliant. No credit card. Cancel anytime.