Cataract Surgery Preparation

Cataract instruction sheet

 

 CATARACT ASSESSMENT APPOINTMENT

Please bring your health card, glasses, sunglasses, any eye drops you use, and a list of current medications. You will not be able to drive this day because of the dilating drops, so please arrange for a driver. Please note, that our office is a scent-free office. Out of consideration for staff and other patients, please refrain from wearing any perfumes, colognes or smoking. If strong scents or odours are detected, you may have to be rescheduled.

The appointment will probably take about 2 hours in total, as we will do all the needed investigations the same day to save you a second trip to the office. Upon arrival, you will need to present your health card and a list of current medications. You will be given a short video about cataracts to watch. Your initial testing will be performed by the technician who will also ask questions about vision, and eyes in general. The techs will test your vision, your eye pressure and do some measurements of the eye, and will also dilate your pupils. It is a good idea to bring someone along with you, as there will be a lot of information discussed.

Once you are dilated (20 – 30 minutes), you will then see Dr. Youssef, who will perform a thorough examination of your eyes, looking at your cataract but also at the overall health of your eyes. He will make his treatment recommendations to you, and together, you can decide what is best for you, and your lifestyle. Dr. Youssef will also discuss some choices that you have regarding the eye measurement before your cataract surgery, and which lens he will insert during the surgery.   These choices will be sent home with you to educate yourself further. Please let us know if you are interested in discussing choices that are NOT covered by OHIP, but will help give you better vision after surgery. If both eyes require cataract surgery, they are usually scheduled one week apart. Dr. Youssef will also give you a choice between manual surgery and Laser assisted cataract surgery, which is the most advanced way to remove the cataract. Also Dr. Youssef will give you the choice of the surgery location , between the hospital or the private centre (PVSC). All these choices are excellent.

EYE MEASUREMENT

On the day of the assessment, you will undergo an eye measurement, to calculate the strength of your lens implant. The most accurate IOL Master is the preferred method to get the best results. If you wear contact lenses, please remove them at least one (1) week prior to your measurement. The longer you have them out, the better your measurement.

You will be given artificial tears to use, four (4) times a day in both eyes, starting one week before your measurement or right away. You will have to buy a bottle from the pharmacy, but you will use it for at least two months after your surgery, so it will not be wasted.

Please make sure you have read over this booklet before this appointment. Any questions you have will be answered this day. Please bring along a friend or family member, if you feel it might be necessary. A prescription for the surgery drops will be given at this appointment. You will also be given a calendar to follow (for the eye drops).

To Print the cataract brochure that we give the patients at the office please follow the link below.

RELAX, YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS

CATARACT SURGERY POST-OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS

Immediately after the surgery

• DO NOT RUB YOUR EYE(S). Rubbing them after cataract surgery may result in SERIOUS post operative complications. Do not rub your eye(s) for at least a month.
•  Patients need to keep their eyes closed for the first two hours after surgery (with the exception of getting around).
• At the end of the two hours the tape should be removed and the drops started. Patient will start to use the drops two hours after surgery.
• NOT two hours after hospital discharge. This is without exception unless you are told specifically by the doctor himself.
• At the hospital you will be given a schedule of when the drops are to be used. Patients are not required to get up during the night to use the drops. They will be used during waking hours only.
• Always follow the instructions given to you on the day of surgery as that will be that most current schedule.
• Your first appointment will be done the afternoon of your surgery, ON THE SAME DAY OF THE SURGERY. You’ll receive your appointment time for the same day when you are at the hospital.
• Once at the office, you’ll be given an appointment for approximately one week later.
• Patients having Bilateral Cataract surgery will receive a prescription for two sets of each drop. One set for the left eye and one for the right. This is done for your own safety; in keeping one set for each eye you reduce the risk of infection due to cross contamination.
• You will also be given cards for your records with the name and power of the lenses you’ve had implanted. Please be sure you have them when you leave the hospital, as they are produced there and we do not have copies of the cards in the office.
• Putting eyedrops can be a challenge. Please review the proper instructions for using eyedrops How To Put Eyedrops? | Premium Vision Surgical Centres (premiumvisionsc.com)

The week after the surgery

• THE CLEAR SHIELDS TAPED OVER YOUR EYES AT THE HOSPITAL MUST BE WORN TO SLEEP FOR THE FIRST WEEK AFTER SURGERY.

• Once you have had your cataract surgery, please contact your optometrist’s office and arrange an appointment for their office to see you 6 weeks after your surgery date.
• Eyes should also remain covered with regular sunglasses when outside to prevent anything getting into the eyes.

The month after the surgery

• Patients must also cover the eyes with swimmers goggles to shower for the first three weeks after surgery.
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• Glasses (if still needed) should not be purchased until after the five to six weeks appointment.
• Most people will find that they require reading glasses after surgery. We recommend dollar store reading glasses during the healing process.
• After cataract surgery, patients will often report seeing what resembles quarter moons or black blinders in the peripheral (corner or side) vision. This is perfectly normal. The swelling of your eye is causing you to pick up extra light that creates the flickering quarter moons. These flickers of light will most likely be present when you go from a dark to light area or vice versa. These flickers should not be present when your eyes are closed. If they are present with the eyes closed, our office should be contacted as soon as possible. The dark blinders are caused by the inflammation and what you’re seeing is the wound, which gets better with time. If this is caused by the lens edge, it would last longer but finally most of the patients would adapt and stop seeing it.
• Patients will often report the sensation of grit or sand in the eyes like the feeling of an eyelash or stitch. There are no stitches in your eyes. The sensation is dryness caused by the surgery. Using the Artificial Tears four times a day should avoid/correct this feeling.
• A common misconception is that one should not bend forward after having cataract surgery. We now feel that simple bending is acceptable. Acts like bending to pick something up, tie your shoes, etc. are harmless.
• You should avoid very heavy lifting or strenuous activity for a period of two weeks after cataract surgery.