Is blurry vision from ointment normal after blepharoplasty?

What's normal

Antibiotic ointment is standard after eyelid surgery. EyeWiki describes ophthalmic antibiotic ointment applied to the incision sites 3 to 4 times a day, and StatPearls describes topical erythromycin ointment applied to the sutures twice daily along with artificial tears as needed. Ointment is greasy by design, so it smears across the front of the eye and blurs vision.

StatPearls guidance for transconjunctival blepharoplasty explicitly says patients should be informed about potential blurry vision when using ointment. This kind of blur comes and goes, is worst right after you apply it, and clears with blinking or as the ointment wears off.

Swelling and tearing add to it. Watery eyes and a dry, gritty surface both smear the tear film and make vision fluctuate in the first week or two.

Comes and goes for as long as you are using ointment, usually the first 1 to 2 weeks, and clears once ointment stops.

When it stops being normal

The key distinction is blur that clears with blinking versus vision that is going away and staying away. AAO states that severe pain, decreased vision, and progressive swelling may represent retrobulbar hemorrhage and should be brought to immediate medical attention. Any decrease or loss of vision, especially with pain, pressure, or a bulging eye, is an emergency.

AAO also lists loss of vision among the possible complications of eyelid surgery. New double vision is another symptom to report the same day, since StatPearls lists double vision among possible complications after lower eyelid surgery.