Cataract surgery is not typically considered to be a painful operation, mostly due to the use of effective anaesthesia. However, the sensations of pain and discomfort can be subjective and there are some factors that can increase your likelihood of experiencing some degree of pain.
Patients Are Given Sedatives and Local Anesthesia
These sedatives allow patients to be conscious but relaxed during the procedure. In addition, local anesthetic will be administer via eye drops to numb the pain and ensure the surgical procedure goes by smoothly.
Quite the contrary, there is little or no discomfort during cataract surgery for most people. On the day of your surgery, you will most likely be given a mild sedative to help you relax and then numbing eye drops will be applied to your eye to prevent discomfort.
Cataract surgery patients often worry about what may happen if they blink during the procedure. Although this is an understandable concern, there is no need to worry. You will be given an oral medication prior to the procedure to help you relax during your surgery.
In addition to the numbing eye drops, you will be given a mild oral sedation so although awake, you will feel relaxed. Before the LASIK procedure begins, patients may be offered a very mild oral sedative. This sedative will help you feel relaxed while remaining awake.
Before the procedure begins, you will be given anesthetic eye drops that numb the eyes. This will help reduce discomfort during the operation. Then, they'll use an instrument that will keep your eyes open, so you do not have to worry about blinking throughout the procedure.
An eye holder gently keeps the lid open during the procedure to prevent blinking.
A numbing drop will be placed in your eye, the area around your eye will be cleaned, and an instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open.
Tape the patient's head to the operating room table before starting the surgery. I use paper tape to gently hold the patient's head in place during the procedure. Place it over the forehead and use a tape that is gentle and will not damage delicate skin.
For just about all of our patients having cataract surgery, they are awake and quite aware of what is going on in the operating room. Every once in a while a patient will be curious about what they will actually see during the cataract procedure since they are awake.
In addition, some patients become claustrophobic under the drape and others may experience a variety of visual sensations that up to 15% find frightening.
You had cataract surgery. It replaced your cloudy natural lens with a clear artificial one. After surgery, your eye may feel scratchy, sticky, or uncomfortable. It may also water more than usual.
Get a Good Night's Sleep
It's hard to sleep when you're nervous, but being well rested for surgery will help you stay calm during the procedure. If you have trouble sleeping, try a glass of warm milk or tea and listen to some calming sounds or music.
Most people feel little or no pain during or after cataract surgery. You'll receive a topical anesthetic (eye drops) to numb your eye during the surgery. Shortly after surgery, your eye may feel gritty or slightly tender, but over-the-counter pain medicine should improve this.
It's estimated that around 80% of patients see colours during their cataract surgery. The most common colours are blue and red, although pink, yellow, green, purple, turquoise and orange have also been reported. Nearly all patients who see these colours during their cataract surgery say that it's a pleasant experience.
For face-to-face surgery, the patient sits upright and comfortable on the surgical chair. The microscope is rotated forwards to face the eye, and the surgeon sits (or stands) facing the patient.
What is done to prevent corneal abrasions? Corneal abrasions can usually be prevented by careful protection of the eyes. Small pieces of sticking tape are commonly used to keep the eyelids fully closed during the anaesthetic. This has been shown to reduce the chance of a corneal abrasion occurring.
Some Don'ts: Things to Avoid
Avoiding eating and drinking before your surgery. Don't wear makeup to the surgery appointment, and avoid wearing makeup until your ophthalmologist allows it so that you can better prevent infection. Avoid getting irritants in your eyes.
Deep breathing
She suggests placing one hand on your abdomen, closing your eyes and inhaling a deep breath through your nose as you feel your belly flatten. Expel the breath through your mouth, feeling your belly expand. Try to make the out-breath longer than the in-breath, like you're sighing.
This is because a gas bubble has been put in your eye. Recovering with your head down allows the bubble to float into the correct position. The bubble holds the retina in place to heal correctly. Your doctor will tell you how long you need to stay face down.
During general anesthesia, eyes need protection either by tape or ointment to avoid corneal injuries. [4] Several approaches have been used to ensure that the eyelids remain closed, such as passive closure, hypoallergenic tape, eye patches, saline-soaked pads, and suturing.
While you may still feel a little bit of pressure during the procedure, you should not feel any pain.
Advanced eye-tracking technology accounts for any movement.
If you should sneeze or cough, the laser will wait or adjust its position to compensate. This technology means that sneezing—as well as coughing or any other involuntary movement—will not affect the result of your surgery.
It's a relatively fast operation, as typically, laser eye surgery takes under 30 minutes to complete. However, there will be some prep time, paperwork, and post-operation care, so you'll likely want to give yourself an hour or two when planning out your day.