What Needs to be Done to Prepare for Cataract Surgery?
Before cataract surgery, special measurements of your eye need to be taken to determine the correct implant required for your eye. This will be arranged at the office and can be done with either laser or ultrasound.
Please make an appointment to see your family doctor at least 3 weeks before your surgery and have your form filled out. It must be received at the surgical centre by email/fax/drop off 2 weeks prior to your surgery.
Medication Eye Drops
Start your drops 2 days before your surgery.
Day of Surgery
Food & Drink
Do Not Eat After Midnight the Night Before Surgery
This includes no soup, chewing gum, or hard candies.
Only Clear Fluids From Three Hours
Only clear fluids three hours before your surgery time (water, herbal tea, apple juice, ginger ale). No milk or cream in the tea. No soup or broth.
Transportation
You MUST have an escort/driver
You must have an escort/driver to accompany you home. Your escort is expected to stay at the surgery centre the entire time you are there in case of an emergency, which may take 1-3 hours. Drop-offs are strongly discouraged.
Failure to Comply May Result in Cancelled or Delayed Surgery; Cancellation Fees Will be Charged
Medication
You SHOULD take your morning pills as usual (you must take blood pressure and heart pills) BUT DO NOT TAKE DIABETES PILLS OR ANY MEDICATION THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN WITH FOOD. Take your pills with sips of clear fluids three hours before your surgery.
You MUST take blood pressure and heart pills.
Do NOT take diabetes pills and/or insulin.
Other Instructions
BRING ALL of your eye drops and a list of your medications
WEAR loose-fitting clothes so that monitoring equipment can be applied easily
DO NOT WEAR jewelry, and do not bring any other valuables
DO NOT WEAR contact lenses, face cream, makeup, perfume, or aftershave
BRING a valid form of payment (VISA, Mastercard, debit, or cash)
It is normal for the operated eye to feel blurry, light-sensitive, tender, sandy, or itchy for hours to several days
You may take regular or extra-strength Tylenol or Advil.
Often the vision clears up slowly, but it can also be sharp within a day. Everyone heals differently and your two eyes will often heal differently from each other.
You will see one of our doctors within 1 week for a follow-up visit.
Food & Drink
You may EAT whatever you like after surgery, but DO NOT drink alcohol for 24 hours as this may interact with the anesthesia medications you had during the surgery.
Medication
About an hour after the surgery, START USING MEDICATION EYE DROPS. Consult the drop instructions chart.
Wound Care
A PLASTIC SHIELD (given to you on the day of surgery) is to be worn when you are sleeping or lying down for the first 3 days/nights after surgery.
If your eyes burn, feel scratchy or itchy, USE LUBRICATING DROPS as often as you need.
DO NOT put any pressure or rub your eye for 2 weeks.
GENTLY CLEAN any eye drop residue from your lashes or the corner of your eye with a clean tissue.
AVOID wearing makeup for 1 week. You can use face cream after surgery, but avoid around the eye.
Activities
Take a BATH at any time, or SHOWER from the neck down for the first 3 days. Afterward, you can wash your hair, but avoid getting soap or water in the operated eye for 2 weeks.
You may resume LIGHT ACTIVITIES (e.g. walking, reading, cooking, watching TV).
You may bend, look down, tie your shoelaces, and sleep on any side you wish.
AVOID STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES for 2 weeks, such as heavy lifting or intense exercises. RULE OF THUMB: if you need to strain to lift something or breathe heavily after an activity, wait 2 weeks before doing it.
AVOID DIRTY/DUSTY ACTIVITIES for 2 weeks, such as gardening & home renovation.
You can play golf or tennis after 1 week with protective eyewear.
No underwater swimming or diving for 1 month.
TRAVELING by care is permitted anytime, but wait 2 weeks before travelling by airplane.
You should avoid DRIVING for 1-2 days or longer if your vision is still blurry, as you may not meet the legal driving standards. At your 1 week visit, your doctor will let you know if you can drive.
Work
For office or desk jobs, resume work within 3-5 days. For jobs that require heavy lifting or working in dusty environments, we suggest 1-2 weeks off from work.
Glasses
WEAR sunglasses whenever you are outdoors for at least 1 week for protection and because your eyes may be sensitive to bright lights.
You may choose to wear your glasses if you feel more comfortable with them on, but often the prescription will change after surgery and you may see better without them.
You may wear over the counter readers in the meantime before you see your optometrist.
Book an appointment to see your OPTOMETRIST 1 month after your last surgery to check your new glasses prescription.
Hospital Arrival Times and Instructions
NYGH Minor Surgical Procedures and Elder Care Centre Eye Surgery Centre
You will go to the main floor and sign in at Patient Administration and pay for your specialty lens. Please arrive 90 minutes before your surgery (opens at 6:30 AM).
You will go to the 6th floor and you will sign in with them and pay for your specialty lens. Please arrive 60 minutes before your surgery (opens at 7:00 AM).
