Preparing for Cataract Surgery: What to Expect

It’s completely natural for changes in vision to become more noticeable as we get older. Cataract is a common condition in which the lens inside the eye becomes thicker and loses its transparency, causing clouding of the vision.

Cataract can affect your vision at all distances, making you feel as though you’re seeing the world through a frosted window. It mainly affects distance vision tasks, with many patients having no difficulty reading. As this condition develops very gradually over time, it will slowly begin to affect your day-to-day activities, including driving, watching TV or using a laptop or computer. It may even start to impact your daily independence.

If cataract surgery has been recommended to you by an eye specialist, it’s natural to feel mixed emotions, including relief and maybe some anxiety.

At Sapphire Eye Care, we understand that preparing for eye surgery can feel daunting, especially if it’s your first experience of a surgical procedure. It is natural to have anxieties about an eye operation, and that is why our team is here to guide you every step of the way, so you can feel informed, confident and comfortable.

In this article, we’ll take you through exactly what you can expect from the surgery, including how long it takes and how sedation for cataract surgery works, as well as how you can prepare for the procedure itself.

 

Before Your Cataract Surgery: What to Expect

Once you’ve had your initial consultation with one of our specialists, our dedicated secretarial team will get in touch so that we can schedule a date for your surgery. With Sapphire Eye Care, you’ll have the flexibility to choose a treatment timeframe that suits your personal needs. You can even select the private hospital, although this may be limited by your medical insurer if you are using private cover.

Once your cataract surgery is scheduled, you’ll receive detailed instructions from our team. Below, we’ve detailed some things that you can expect:

 

Pre-operative assessment

As the date of your treatment approaches, we’ll be in touch to ensure you’re equipped with all of the necessary details you’ll need before your surgery. We’ll also make sure all of your specific requirements are addressed, including any adjustments to your medication, although the vast majority of medications should be continued unchanged.

Although most of our patients can be medically assessed on the day of their surgery, some will need a pre-assessment. If this is necessary, we will let you know during your initial consultation.

 

Plan your transport

Due to the nature of the surgical procedure, you won’t be able to drive yourself to and from the hospital. Consider asking a friend or a family member to come with you, or to drop you off and pick you up after the surgery.

If you’re struggling to find someone who can do this for you, we may be able to help. Please let a member of our team know, and we will try our best to make other arrangements for you.

 

Preparing for Cataract Surgery

To help ease some of the nervousness before your cataract surgery, it’s a good idea to be prepared. We’ve compiled a few tips to help you feel calmer and ensure you’re fully prepared for your procedure:

• Bring entertainment: There may be some waiting time before your surgery, so make sure you bring something to keep you entertained. Keep your valuables at home, but take some reading material with you.
• Take a friend: As we’ve mentioned, make sure you have a trusted relative or friend to escort you to and from the hospital.
• Wear comfortable clothes: Since you’ll remain in your own clothing during surgery, opt for something loose-fitting and easy to relax in.

 Today, most cataract surgeries are carried out using drops that numb the eye area, which is called topical anaesthesia. This means that you will be awake during the operation, but you will not feel any pain at all.

We understand that it can feel a little intimidating, especially if you’re unsure what it will feel like. At Sapphire Eye Care, we prioritise your comfort throughout the procedure. Rest assured that cataract surgery is one of the safest procedures in the world. If you’re still nervous, we will offer you some sedation to help you relax; this should be discussed with your consultant in clinic. We will even hold your hand, if you’d like us to.

 

During the Procedure

On the big day, you will be asked to sign a consent form to affirm that you’ve been provided with all of the information relevant to the operation, including risks and benefits, and that you have understood and agreed to the proposed treatment.

The clouded lens will be carefully removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens. The entire process is delicate and efficient, and most people are surprised by how quick and painless it feels.

 

How Long Does Cataract Surgery Take?

One of the most common questions we hear is: How long does cataract surgery take?

During the procedure, you will see very little of what is happening. To help ease any anxieties, we will explain what we’re doing as the surgery progresses.

The actual procedure is usually very quick, taking around 10-15 minutes. Although in some cases, it can take longer. You’ll be at the clinic for around 3 to 4 hours in total, which includes time for pre-operative preparation, anaesthesia, and a short recovery period afterwards. It’s a day case surgery, meaning you won’t need to stay overnight.

Following the procedure, you’ll rest briefly in a recovery area until you feel ready to go home. We’ll provide you with the following:

• Clear plastic shield: The operated eye, or eyes, will be covered with a clear plastic shield. This should stay in place overnight.
• Eye drops: The eye drops you will be given are both anti-inflammatory and antibiotic to assist with the healing process.
• Aftercare instructions: With the eye drops, you will be provided with written instructions for how to use them and how regularly they should be used. We will also make sure you know how to care for your eyes when you get home.

For the first day post-surgery, your vision may still be blurry. However, once your operated eye has settled, you will start to notice an improvement. Our patients are pleasantly surprised by how straightforward the process is and how much clearer their vision feels in the days and weeks that follow.

As soon as you feel ready, you will be able to return to your daily routine and normal activities, like reading, driving or gardening. However, for the first couple of weeks, we recommend that you avoid high-impact sports, swimming, heavy lifting and wearing eye makeup.

Everyone heals differently, so if you’re unsure, please check with your surgeon. We’ll guide you through everything you need to do for a smooth recovery.