Before Your Appointment

Surgery Day

Recovery

  • Description text goes hereNo. Today is your planning appointment. We will perform painless measurements and tests to calculate the precise power for your new lens. Surgery is a separate procedure scheduled for a future date.

  • Contacts slightly change the shape of your cornea. For our planning measurements to be 100% accurate, your eye needs to return to its natural shape. Please leave them out for at least one full week before your visit.

  • For today's Planning Visit, the drops typically wear off in about 4 hours. You will be light-sensitive and your near vision will be blurry, so we recommend bringing sunglasses and a driver.

  • No. We use numbing drops and a gentle sedative to ensure you are comfortable. Most patients report feeling only a slight "pressure" or a "cooling sensation" during the 10-15 minute procedure.on text goes here

  • Don't worry! We use a small, gentle device to keep your eye open so you don't have to worry about blinking. The sedation also helps you stay relaxed and still.

  • Option 1: Standard Monofocal Lens

    • How it works: This lens is set to a single focal point—usually for distance (driving and TV).

    • Expectation: You will likely see very well far away, but you will need reading glasses for almost all near-vision tasks, such as reading a book, seeing your phone, or looking at a computer screen.

    • Cost: This is typically the option covered by standard insurance or Medicare.

    Option 2: Premium "Astigmatism-Correcting" (Toric) Lens

    • How it works: If you have astigmatism (where your eye is shaped more like a football than a basketball), a standard lens cannot fully correct your blurriness. A Toric lens is custom-aligned to neutralize your astigmatism.

    • Expectation: This provides the crispest possible distance vision for patients with astigmatism. You will still likely need reading glasses for near-vision tasks.

    Option 3: Premium "Full Range" Lenses (Multifocal or EDOF)

    • How it works: These advanced lenses use specialized optics to provide multiple focal points at once (Far, Intermediate, and Near).

    • Expectation: The goal of these lenses is "freedom from glasses." Most patients can drive, see their dashboard/computer, and read a text message without reaching for spectacles.

    • The Trade-off: While excellent for convenience, some patients may notice subtle "halos" or "rings" around lights at night, which usually fade as the brain adapts.

  • Will I be put to sleep for cataract surgery?

    Most patients are not put under general anesthesia for cataract surgery. Instead, we use a method called twilight sedation. This allows you to stay very relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure without the risks or longer recovery time associated with being fully put to sleep.

    During the surgery, we use specialized numbing drops so you will not feel any pain. The sedation ensures you remain in a calm and dream-like state. You will be able to breathe on your own and will remain conscious, though most patients find they are so relaxed that they remember very little of the procedure afterward. This approach is the gold standard for cataract surgery because it is exceptionally safe and allows you to return home shortly after your procedure is complete.

  • No, you will not be able to drive yourself home on the day of your surgery. Because we use sedation to ensure you are comfortable and relaxed during the procedure, you will be legally impaired for the remainder of the day.

    You must have a responsible adult accompany you to the surgery center, remain there during your procedure, and drive you home afterward. Most patients are cleared to resume driving the very next day following their post-operative checkup, as long as their vision meets the required safety standards.

  • We use much stronger drops during the actual procedure. It is normal for the surgical eye to remain dilated for 1 to 2 days. Do not be alarmed if your pupils look uneven during this time.

    • First Week: Walking is fine. No strenuous exercise, no heavy lifting (over 15 lbs), and no bending your head below your waist.

    • First Two Weeks: Strictly no swimming or hot tubs due to the risk of infection.

  • Yes, eye drops are a vital part of the healing process to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. To make this process as simple as possible for our patients, we offer a specialized combination drop. This "3-in-1" solution contains the antibiotic, steroid, and anti-inflammatory medications all in a single bottle, so you only have to manage one drop instead of three.

    You will follow a simple tapering schedule over the course of four weeks. Most patients follow the 4/3/2/1 rule:

    • Week 1: Use the drop 4 times a day.

    • Week 2: Use the drop 3 times a day.

    • Week 3: Use the drop 2 times a day.

    • Week 4: Use the drop 1 time a day.

    Once you finish your fourth week, you are done! This streamlined approach is designed to be convenient while ensuring your eye has the protection it needs to achieve the best possible visual result.