Discomfort following eye muscle surgery is typically not severe. More commonly, patients report experiencing a dull headache, soreness, swelling, a pulling sensation with movement of the eyes and/or a sensation of foreign material in the eye. Although over-the-counter pain medication is often adequate for pain relief, stronger medications are sometimes prescribed. Our surgeons recommend limited physical activity and no water in the eye(s) for at least two weeks. Many of our adult patients return to work within several days to a week following eye muscle surgery. Redness in the operated eye(s) should be expected and can last several days to weeks.