What to expect day of Cataract Surgery

Thanks to advancements in cataract surgery technique, modern vision restoration procedures are comfortable and amazingly fast. Surgery is a matter of minutes, not hours, and because general anesthesia is no longer necessary, the procedure is safer than ever and recovery is far easier.

The procedure:

• Your eye will be numbed with a topical anesthetic administered as an eye drop. You will be given short-acting sedation through an IV that will keep you calm and comfortable during the procedure. You will be awake and aware of your surroundings but you will not be able to see.
• You will be attached to a heart rate monitor. Only the eye that is undergoing the operation will be exposed. The remainder of your face will be covered in a drape.
• Dr. Sandy T. Feldman will begin by making a tiny incision in the cornea or the front of the eye (this is an almost-painless process). She then inserts a tiny ultrasonic tool that is used to break up and remove the cataract. A new IOL is then inserted to allow the focus of light on the retina. Stitches are often not needed because the incision is so small. The procedure only lasts about 15 to 30 minutes. During the procedure, you might be aware of the surgical team around you and instrument noises.
• To limit the odds of spreading infection, surgical gloves, masks, and scrubs will be worn in the operating room. Surgical kits with disposable solutions and instruments might also be utilized.
• At the completion of the surgery, the doctor will place a shield to cover the eye; this bandage is removed the next morning. You can be driven home after a short recovery period.

Now that you know what to expect during your vision rejuvenation, learn more about what to expect after surgery.

Dr. Feldman and her caring staff will answer any questions you may have and address your concerns. Please call or email us today to schedule a consultation with San Diego cataract surgeon, Dr. Sandy T. Feldman.

Upon arrival, your eye will be completely numbed using a topical anesthetic administered via eye drops—meaning no needles are used around the eye. To ensure you remain calm and relaxed, you will be given short-acting, conscious sedation through an IV. You will be attached to a heart rate monitor for safety, and a sterile drape will cover your face, exposing only the operative eye.

Dr. Sandy T. Feldman will begin by making a microscopic incision in the cornea. This process is virtually painless. Using a tiny ultrasonic tool, she will gently break up and remove the cloudy natural lens (the cataract).

Once the cataract is removed, a customized artificial Intraocular Lens (IOL) is inserted to properly focus light back onto your retina. Because the initial incision is so small, it typically self-seals, meaning stitches are rarely needed.

Ans: Yes, you will be awake and aware of your surroundings, but you will not feel pain. The IV sedation keeps you deeply relaxed. While you are awake, you will not be able to "see" the surgery happening; you may only notice bright lights, moving shadows, and the sound of the surgical instruments or the team speaking.

Ans: The actual surgical procedure is remarkably fast, typically lasting only 15 to 30 minutes per eye. However, you should plan to be at our clinic for a few hours to account for pre-op preparation and a short post-op observation period before you are driven home.