Pre-Surgical Preparation for Cataract Surgery

While millions (hundreds of millions!) of cataract operations are successfully carried out across the globe each year, it’s important to remember that it’s still a surgical procedure. This means that you’ll need to undergo a variety of pre-surgical prep before it’s performed.

There are three distinct elements that take place over the months, weeks, and minutes beforehand.

The 3 Stages of Pre-Surgical Preparation for Cataract Surgery

• Stage 1: a suitability assessment
• Stage 2:  24–48 hours pre-surgery
• Stage 3: 20-30 minutes pre-surgery

Stage 1: a suitability assessment

The first element of your pre-surgical preparation for cataract surgery is to determine that you’re ready for surgery. Cataracts usually develop very slowly over many years, meaning that until they’re significantly affecting your eyesight, you won’t need an operation.

The term for when a cataract is ready to be removed is known as “being ripe”. By monitoring the progression over months and years (even decades), your ophthalmologist will determine the time that they consider you suitable for a cataract replacement.

Stage 2: 24-48 hours pre-surgery

You’ll be advised by your surgeon as to the exact steps you need to take during this period. These are likely to include:

• Stopping certain medications (such as anticoagulants—more commonly called blood thinners).
• Not drinking any alcohol for at least 24 hours.
• Not eating after midnight on the night preceding your operation.

Stage 3: 20-30 minutes pre-surgery

When you arrive at the doctor’s office for your appointment, you’ll go through a pre-op checklist. This is to confirm that there have been no changes in your medical history and that you don’t have any current illness or condition that would make you unsuitable for surgery.

Anesthetic drops will be placed in the eye to numb it. You might also have a local anesthetic injection/s into the surrounding tissues. This helps to prevent any eye movement during the procedure. In some cases, you might be given a sedative to help you relax. This isn’t the case for everyone, and it will be discussed with you before the day.

If you do have sedation, this might be oral or via an IV drip, Again, which is appropriate will be decided before the day of the operation. It’s particularly useful if you’re very anxious about going under the knife.

Once your eye is numb, a device will be placed over the eye to keep the lid open. This doesn’t hurt but can be a little uncomfortable. Once all these steps have been taken, then you’re fully prepped for your surgical procedure and the operation can commence.

Happily, the actual cataract procedure is far quicker than all of the preparation. Most people are very surprised by how fast it is—it should be over in around 10 minutes or less. You’ll have to wait in the recovery room for a little while so your surgeon can check all is well. If you’ve had an IV sedation, you’ll be free to leave once the majority of the effects have worn off.

Get the Best Pre-Surgical Preparation for Cataract Surgery at the West Boca Eye Center

Nowhere does cataract surgery better than the exemplary team at the WBEC. Led by renowned specialist surgeon, Brent Bellotte M.D., the team offers the very latest techniques and serves patients of all ages. 

Whether you need treatment for age-related cataracts, traumatic cataracts, have an underlying health condition that increases your risk, or you need to partner with the best clinician to treat your child’s genetic cataracts, the West Boca Eye Centre is a leading academic-grade facility.

Don’t entrust your precious eyesight to anyone other than the experts. Visit  https://westbocaeyecenter.com/services/cataract-surgery/ and call today to book a consultation.

While millions (hundreds of millions!) of cataract operations are successfully carried out across the globe each year, it’s important to remember that it’s still a surgical procedure. This means that you’ll need to undergo a variety of pre-surgical prep before it’s performed.