The Day of Surgery

Modern cataract surgery has made long hospital stays a thing of the past. You usually do not even need to change into a hospital gown.

• Drops are put into the eye to dilate the pupil upon arrival.
• A local anaesthetic is administered close to the eye to prevent you feeling any discomfort during the operation. It will also stop you blinking or moving your eye.

Operating theatre

• The skin around the eye is cleaned with antiseptic.
• Sterile drapes are placed around the head and face. For your comfort a tube blows fresh air under the drapes during the short operation.
• Under an operating microscope a small incision is made into the eye. State of the art technology enables your surgeon to remove the cloudy lens by a process known as phacoemulsification.
  
  
  
  
   
• A new lens implant is then inserted into the eye. The incision does not normally require stitches.
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
• A protective shield will then be placed over your eye at the end of the operation.

After Surgery

• You will usually rest in a reclining chair with a cup of tea or coffee but will be able to go home after an hour
• The protective shield can be worn for the first few nights.
• Eye drops will be needed for a few weeks.
• It is safe to read, cook and watch television.
• Avoid heavy physical exertion.
• Do not rub the eye.
• It is safe to have a shower or bath, try not to get water in your eye.
• Do not resume driving unless you are advised that it is safe and you feel confident to do so.
• Promptly report any pain or sudden deterioration in vision.