About Your Surgery

The Eye Surgery Center is committed to ensuring that your experience with us is relaxed and worry-free, from consultation through recovery. To assist us, we ask that you read and comply with the following guidelines.

Prior to your surgery

If you have medical power of attorney that makes your medical decisions, you must provide proof for the Center on the day of surgery.
Consult with your family physician regarding specific instructions for your routine medications prior to your surgery. If you take insulin or inhalers, you are encouraged to bring these items with you on the day of surgery.
Notify the center if there is any change in your physical condition prior to your surgery, such as a fever or infection.
Abstain from all food and liquids for eight hours prior to your surgery. You can have clear liquids up to four hours prior to your surgery. Clear liquids include only the following: apple juice, Gatorade, coffee and tea with no dairy or nondairy creamers and/or sugar.
- For Your Safety: If these instructions are not followed your physician and anesthesiologist will cancel your surgery and it will be rescheduled at a later time. When you receive sedatives you become susceptible to aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs due to a decreased ability to protect your airway. Aspirating acidic stomach contents into the lungs can result in serious, life threatening complications.
If you take medications to control your blood pressure, seizures, thyroid disease, heart disease, in the morning you should take them with a small sip of water. If you take blood thinners it is important that you discuss this with your physician and your surgeon before stopping the medication.
For surgeries scheduled in the morning, a light dinner the evening before is recommended. For surgeries scheduled in the afternoon, a morning meal of toast and clear liquids (including soda, juice, coffee or tea) is recommended up to six hours before the surgery.
If you are Diabetic: Do not take your medication (pill or insulin) before surgery unless instructed by your physician. Please bring your medication with you to surgery. For afternoon surgery, take half your usual dose of insulin in the morning, unless instructed otherwise by your physician.
If you have an allergy to Latex: Please inform your physician. The Eye Surgery Center is not equipped to operate on patients with a latex allergy. Complications for those people who have a proven latex allergy can be severe. In this case, your operation will need to be performed in a latex free environment.
On the day of surgery, wear comfortable warm, loose-fitting clothing with an open neck or buttons down the front of your blouse or shirt that allows us easy access to attach the heart monitor. Be careful not to swallow the water when brushing your teeth. Do not wear makeup, lotion or jewelry. All valuables, including purses and wallets, should be left at home or with a responsible adult.
Patients are not allowed to drive themselves home after surgery. Please arrange for someone to drive you home and remain with you for six hours after discharge from our center. Public transportation may be used only if you are accompanied by an adult. You will not be allowed to leave the center unescorted.
A nurse from our center may call you one to three days prior to discuss this information and answer any questions you may have.

Your Day Of Surgery

We ask that you arrive at your scheduled appointment time with your insurance card(s) and picture ID. Here is what you can expect on the day of your surgery:

Upon entering the center, notify the receptionist of your arrival. Be sure to bring your insurance card(s) and picture ID, which will be scanned and returned to you at this time.
You will be asked to sign a surgery center consent form, which authorizes our physicians to perform the surgery. If you are under the age of 18, your parent or guardian must sign the form. If you have medical power of attorney that makes your medical decisions, you must provide proof for the Center.
A nurse will record your vital signs and confirm the eye to be operated and will mark it appropriately.
A nurse will escort you to the pre-operative area to prepare you for the procedure. If you require someone for translation they can follow you to the pre-op area as well as family. Any questions you or your family has may also be addressed at this time.
An IV will be started, allowing us to administer a relaxant that will make you feel comfortable throughout the procedure.
Additional eye drops will be given to prepare your eye(s) for the procedure.
During surgery, mild sedation will be administered to minimize pain and discomfort you may experience, but will allow you to speak and respond to verbal cues throughout the procedure, communicating any discomfort you may experience to the provider. A brief period of amnesia may erase any memory of the procedure.
During surgery, the skin around your eyes will be thoroughly cleansed, and sterile coverings will be placed around your head. You may notice bright lights, movement and noise but you will not be able to see the procedure while it is happening.
Mild sedation allows patients to recover quickly after the procedure and resume normal daily activities in a short period of time.
After the surgery, you will be asked to rest in our recovery room for a short time until the effects of the medication wear off.
It is recommended that the person escorting you home remain in our waiting area throughout your preparation, surgery and recovery period.

After Your Surgery

The following guidelines are intended to help you return to your normal routine as quickly as possible after surgery:

It is important to first follow any specific instructions given to you by your surgeon regarding your recovery. Your surgeon’s instructions will always take precedence over general rules of recovery.
You may resume your regular diet and eating habits immediately.
Use eye medications as labeled by your surgeon. All other medications may be resumed as prescribed. Laxatives may be taken if needed.
If an eye patch or shield is prescribed, wear it according to your surgeon’s instructions.
Do not rub or touch your treated eyes. Avoid getting soap and water in your eyes.
You may watch television. Ask your surgeon if it is permissible to read.
Eye make-up should not be worn unless approved by your surgeon.
All activities are normally permitted one week after surgery. Consult with your surgeon if you have questions regarding a specific activity.