Patients Are Given Sedatives and Local Anesthesia
We know that the surgical process can be a source of stress for patients even though cataract removal is routine. This is why we give patients sedative drugs prior to surgery. These sedatives allow patients to be conscious but relaxed during the procedure.
You may be instructed not to eat or drink anything 12 hours before cataract surgery. Your doctor may also advise you to temporarily stop taking any medication that could increase your risk of bleeding during the procedure.
Cataract surgery under local anaesthesia is often accompanied by fear and anxiety. These emotions result from fear of surgery, such as pain and loss of vision. Abstaining before surgery is a factor that increases preoperative anxiety, and visual sensations during cataract surgery increase fear.
Listen to Music
On the day of, you may want to have some techniques to calm yourself while in the waiting room and surgery prep. Besides practicing deep breathing, you can listen to music to distract yourself. Your surgeon may even allow you to listen to music during the procedure.
Most cataract surgeries employ the following medications singularly or in some combination: midazolam, fentanyl, ketamine, and propofol.
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.
Here are some things that you may want to avoid before and after cataract surgery to ensure that you heal properly. 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.
It's A Safe, Low-Risk Surgery
Any surgery carries some risk, and cataract surgery is no different. As far as surgeries go, cataract surgery is very low-risk. A small percentage of patients will experience complications. An even smaller percentage experience serious complications.
Endophthalmitis is a serious complication of cataract surgery involving microorganisms that gain entry into the eye. Risk factors for the development of endophthalmitis include rupture of the posterior capsule or the need for anterior vitrectomy during the procedure, age greater than 85 years, and male sex.
take it easy for the first 2 to 3 days. use your eye shield at night for at least a week. take painkillers if you need to. bathe or shower yourself as usual.
While home, you may be allowed to remove your eye shield, but you should wear it when sleeping for at least a week to prevent eye injury. Full recovery from cataract surgery should be complete in about a month, although it can take up to three months for your eye to be completely healed.
Yes, after cataract surgery, you need to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. After surgery, your eyes are healing and are more sensitive to the sun's rays than usual.
In addition, some patients become claustrophobic under the drape and others may experience a variety of visual sensations that up to 15% find frightening. Various studies have been undertaken looking into factors that cause anxiety and into the emotional aspects of cataract surgery.
20 mg. Diazepam (Valium) one hour before operation, as the sole premedication.
Midazolam injection is used to produce sleepiness or drowsiness and relieve anxiety before surgery or certain procedures. When midazolam is used before surgery, the patient will not remember some of the details about the procedure.
During cataract surgery
You'll be awake during surgery, but you won't be able to see what's happening in your eye.
On the day after you have cataract surgery, your vision may be blurry or uneven. This is normal as your vision needs time to adjust and heal. Most cataract surgeons will ask you to come in for your first follow-up appointment the day after cataract surgery. It's extremely important that you attend this appointment.
Typically, patients are awake during cataract surgery. This eliminates risks associated with general anesthesia (where you are “put to sleep”) and enables Our Doctors to communicate with you during your procedure. You will be given an oral medication prior to the procedure to help you relax during your surgery.
The requirement for fasting before surgery was recommended by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), which published updated guidelines in 2011 for patients undergoing general anesthesia to reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
The area around your eye is cleaned and then a light sterile drape will cover your face and chest. A tube underneath the drape gently blows out some fresh air therefore you will be able to breathe normally. During the operation you will be asked to keep your head still, and lie as flat as possible.
There is no pain during cataract surgery.
You will feel cool water flowing over your eye at times, and perhaps a painless touch around the eye or a very light pressure sensation, but no pain. You may see colorful lights during the procedure as well – this is normal.
The most common forms of local anesthesia include injection techniques (retrobulbar, peribulbar, subconjunctival/sub-Tenon's) and topical anesthesia. Sedating agents given orally or intravenously are commonly used to reduce patient anxiety and discomfort.
Sleep on your back or on the opposite side of the eye that was operated on to decrease your risk of infection and irritation after surgery. If you turn over in your sleep, your eye shield should help protect your eye from significant damage.
During early recovery, patients will be able to see, but not in clear, but rather, soft vision. Within 48 hours, many cataracts patients see significant improvement in their vision. It is possible that your vision could take one to two weeks to adjust and settle.