Eye Surgery FAQ

What are the considerations for anesthesia during eye surgery?

Like with any surgery, anesthesia is only considered to elicit a pain-free experience and create the best surgery experience for patients. Ophthalmologic surgeons and an anesthesiologist go over the patient’s health history and consider the patient's preference as well before making a recommendation. General anesthesia is rarely the preferred kind of anesthesia for eye surgeries, the recommendation usually ranges from mild sedation to local anesthesia.

Is eye surgery risky?

Compared to major surgeries such as Bariatric or Aesthetic Plastic surgeries eye surgeries have a very low risk and thanks to advances in technology the risk has dropped even more in the recent years.

Are there medical conditions that can complicate eye surgery?

Patients who have a weakened immune system due to autoimmune disease, glaucoma, or diabetes have a higher risk of complication during eye surgery, and might not even be eligible for an eye surgery.

What should I do to prepare for surgery?

The patient should make sure to inform the attending ophthalmologist as well as their Patient Coordinator of any health conditions that the patient suffers from and any medication they are using. The patient should make sure to clean the area near the eyes of any makeup before the surgery. If general anesthesia will be administered the patient should make sure to fast for at least 8 hours before the surgery.

Will I see what is happening during my surgery?

If local anesthesia or minimal sedation is applied the patient will be able to notice what is happening during surgery, but since anesthetic eye drops are also administered before the surgery, the patient’s vision will be blurry.