What to Expect the Day of Surgery

Many of our patients have significant anxiety and fear about cataract surgery. Please be assured, Dr. Wade and Dr. Mayo are excellent at making our patients feel comfortable.

On the day of cataract surgery, you will arrive at the Surgery Center about an hour prior to your surgery time. Nurses greet you and prepare you for your surgical experience. You are able to stay in your own clothes and you receive IV sedation to keep you comfortable. We make sure that you are comfortable and relaxed before we move into the operating room. You have a board certified anesthesiologist with you at all times.

During cataract surgery, you lie on your back and look at a bright light. Our patients worry about seeing things or feeling unpleasant sensations. Almost all patients do not feel discomfort or even remember very much about cataract surgery. The cataract surgery takes a few minutes and is completed through a small incision using gentle computer controlled ultrasound called phacoemulsification. After the cloudy lens of the eye or cataract is removed, we place an intraocular lens implant. Dr. Wade and Dr. Mayo specialize in the ReSTOR IOL implant that allow patients to see far and near without the use of glasses or contact lenses in most cases. We also use the Alcon Acrysof Toric implant to reduce or eliminate astigmatism. In most cases cataract surgery is completed without the use of stitches, needles around the eyes, or even an eye patch.

After cataract surgery, our patients return home the very same day and are able to see right away. They begin postoperative eye drops to avoid inflammation or infection. Our patients regain their vision quickly and are able to return to normal activity in a few days. There is little to no pain in almost all cataract surgery cases.

Want an overview of cataracts? Read Our Article:  Cataracts: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments