PREOPERATIVE CATARACT SURGERY INSTRUCTIONS

If you take Flomax, please IMMEDIATELY discontinue this medication, and ask your doctor if you may substitute with Avodart.  If you have an allergy to latex, please inform our office as soon as possible.

7 Days Before Surgery, stop taking PLAVIX (if you are taking it).   You may continue other anti-coagulant medications (ie. Coumadin) or anti-inflammatory medications (ie. Aspirin, Celebrex, Vioxx, Motrin, Advil).   Tylenol is also permitted.

On Monday, 3 days prior to surgery, please stop any eye makeup or facial cream or moisturizers, and stop Vitamin E or any multivitamin containing Vitamin E. 

On Wednesday, 1 day before surgery, please begin the Zymaxid, Pred and Xibrom (found in the medication bag which I gave you or will give you) 1 drop 4 times a day in the eye to be operated, waiting at least 5 minutes in between each eye drop.  Please wash your face and head thoroughly. If you take glaucoma medications, you should apply the last dose in the operated eye the evening before surgery, and continue glaucoma medications in the other eye.

On the morning of surgery, begin 3 different eye medications:

       1.   Tropicamide (= Mydriacyl)                 

           2.   Zymaxid                  

           3.   Xibrom

         Apply 1 drop of each medication every 30 minutes in the eye to be operated beginning 2 hours before surgery.   It is normal for the eye drops to sting.  Please take all routine medications the morning of surgery, especially your blood pressure medication.  If you are diabetic, please do not take your diabetic medication on the morning of surgery.  Your blood sugar will be monitored closely after arrival.  Do not apply any lotion or makeup.  DO NOT EAT  ANYTHING FOR 8 HOURS BEFORE THE PROCEDURE.  You may drink clear liquids (water, apple juice, carbonated beverages) up to 2 hours before the procedure.  Please bring: all medications and eye drops, insurance card, and photo ID with you to the center. 

After you arrive at the surgery center, more eye drops will be applied to your operated eye.   Valium will be offered if you are anxious.  An intravenous will be placed in an arm vein.  A comfortable bed will be provided for you to lie down on, and you will be rolled into the operating room on this bed.  Please keep in mind that in order to maximize your comfort, your cataract procedure is usually performed without the use of any anesthetic requiring needles, or any stitches.  We may occasionally give a mild short acting sedative through the intravenous if you are anxious.  We place a topical anesthetic jelly on both eyes which anesthetizes the eye for the surgery and comforts the non-operated eye.   Most patients are awake for the procedure although you may request to be more sedated. 

After you arrive in the operating room, your upper face will be cleansed with betadine, and a paper sheet will be placed over your face and upper body to isolate the operated eye and maintain sterility.  A lid speculum will be placed on the eye in order to keep your eyelids open during the surgery.   You may feel pressure on the eyelids from the speculum but no pain.  You may see a bright light from the microscope as the surgery begins.  The light is initially bright but gradually dims.  During the surgery, it is important to not talk unless absolutely necessary.  You may sometimes feel water drops on the eye and slight momentary pressure.    The procedure usually takes 10-15 minutes.  After the surgery, you will be brought to a post-operative area for post-operative instructions prior to leaving the center.   Taxi pickup is not allowed because the driver must walk you into your home and be able to stay with you as needed.