Cataract Surgery TABLE OF CONTENTS

Transcription

1 Cataract Surgery This information has been published to the web. It is a copy of the Cataract Surgery information pamphlet from St. Joseph s Heath Center. The information on cataract surgery will help you understand Cataracts what to expect while in the hospital how to care for yourself after surgery PLEASE NOTE: If you must cancel your surgery for any reason, please call the surgeon's office as soon as possible. After an anaesthetic, you can not drive or use mechanical equipment for 24 hours. TABLE OF CONTENTS Information About Cataracts What is a Cataract? Cataract Surgery Rigid Lenses Foldable Lens Preadmission Day of Surgery Surgical Day Unit At Home Day after Surgery Discharge Instructions Following Eye Surgery How to Put in Your Eye Drops Special Instructions from your Eye Surgeon Appointments What Is A Cataract? Inside your eye is a natural lens that helps your eye focus on objects. As people age, the lens can become less clear, harder, and even cloudy. This cloudiness in the lens is called a cataract. Surgery is the only way to improve your vision. Your doctor will discuss the surgery to remove your cataract and answer any questions that you may have.

2 Cataract Surgery To improve your vision, your Surgeon will remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens. This is called an intraocular lens implant (IOL) and it will provide you with the most natural vision possible. Your doctor will discuss with you the various types of lenses available. The lens implant is permanent. It cannot be felt. The incision in your eye will take 4 weeks to completely heal. During that time your vision will gradually improve. Your doctor will discuss with you various types of lenses available. Rigid Lenses Rigid lenses have been in use for over 20 years. They have an excellent record of safety and provide patients with very good vision. The cost of these lenses is covered by hospitalization insurance benefits (OHIP). Foldable Lenses Foldable lenses have been in use for a shorter period of time; however many thousands of these lenses have been safely used to restore vision following cataract surgery. These lenses can be folded and placed into the eye through a smaller opening than is needed for a rigid lens. This often allows vision to recover more quickly after surgery. As a result, glasses can be prescribed sooner. In some cases, there may be other advantages to this type of lens, which will be described to you by your doctor, if they are relevant to your case. A number of foldable lenses are available. Your doctor will recommend which type is best for your eye condition. The extra cost of the foldable lens is not covered by hospitalization insurance benefits (OHIP) and therefore is billed to you by the hospital. Preadmission 1. For your Preadmission visit you must bring with you: a) Ontario Health Card and other Health Insurance cards. b) A list of all past operations and illnesses you have had. c) i. All medications in original containers or an up-to-date list from your pharmacy. ii. A list of all your allergies. d) If you do not speak English well, bring someone with you who can speak English. e) Glasses for reading. f) A book or magazine to read. Eat before you come. g) Wear comfortable clothes. Ladies, please wear slacks with socks or knee highs instead of pantyhose. h) A family member or friend with you. If possible, bring the person who will be helping you after your discharge from the hospital. 2. Your Preadmission visit to the hospital will take about 2-3 hours. Your Visit Will Include: a) Tests - blood work, ECG (heart tracing), X-rays. b) Special eye testing. c) Physical examination by a nurse practitioner / medical doctor / or an anesthesiologist. d) Teaching about your care before and after surgery.

3 e) Reviewing this booklet. f) Seeing a video on cataract surgery. g) Information about hotels / motels / bed & breakfast / homes for out of town patients. h) Information about which medications to take the day of surgery. Day of Surgery Remember 1. Do not eat after midnight the night before your surgery ' 2. You may drink clear fluids up to 4 hours before surgery. Clear fluids are: water, apple juice, black coffee or tea, clear broth and Jell-O. No milk or milk products. 3. If diabetic, do not eat or drink after midnight. 4. Take pills as instructed with a sip of water on morning of surgery. 5. Wear short-sleeved button front shirt or blouse. Ladies, please wear slacks or skirt with socks or knee-highs. No pantyhose or girdles. 6. Leave all jewelry / valuables / (INCLUDING RINGS) at home. 7. Bring your glasses or sunglasses with you. 8. Bring inhalers (puffers) with you, if you have asthma or a lung condition. 9. A family member or friend must take you home. Please bring their telephone number Surgical Day Care Unit Before Your Surgery You will stay with us about 3 hours. Some blood tests may be done before your surgery (i.e. blood sugar, if diabetic). Your blood pressure, pulse and temperature will be taken. Eye drops will be put into your eye. An intravenous (IV) will be started. You will go over the post-operative instructions with your nurse. You will be asked some questions by your nurse to be sure you are ready for your surgery. You will be taken to the operating room on a stretcher. Your family member or friend will be told where to wait in the surgical waiting room on the 1st floor. After Your Surgery You will return to Surgical Day Care for about 30 minutes. You will have an eye shield over your eye or you will be given your eyeglasses to wear. Your blood pressure and pulse will be checked. If you are diabetic, we will check your blood sugar. Medication will be given, if necessary. Your IV will be taken out after you have had something to drink and a light snack.

4 You may be given a prescription for eye drops. Start these eye drops, as instructed. When you are ready to go home, we will call your family member or friend. At Home We strongly recommend you have someone stay with you the night of surgery. Leave eye shield on or wear glasses to protect the eye. There will be some mucous and tears from the eye. Rest the evening of your surgery. You may read or watch Television as tolerated. Take Tylenol Plain (2) (acetaminophen) every 4 hours for pain if necessary, provided you are not allergic to it. Use Gravol (dimenhydrinate) for nausea/vomiting (buy at drugstore). You may eat a regular diet unless you are on a special diet e.g. diabetic You may take your regular medication. Start eye drops only if instructed. Contact your surgeon if you experience severe pain in the eye. DAY AFTER SURGERY Go to your eye surgeon as arranged. Bring glasses or sunglasses with you. Bring eye drops, if instructed. DO NOT DRIVE. Your surgeon will tell you when you can start to drive. Discharge Instructions Following Eye Surgery Do Do use prescribed eye drops, as instructed. Do wear glasses or eye shield at all times to protect eye from injury, at least for 1-2 weeks. Do wash your eyelid gently with a cotton ball or clean facecloth soaked with luke warm tap water. Your surgeon will discuss the use of sterile water, if necessary. Do wear eye shield when showering or bathing for one week. Let the water hit your back not your face. Do ask a family member or friend to help you wash your hair the first time. Remember not to get the operated eye wet. Gradually increase your activity on the advice of your eye surgeon. Sit in a chair to put on shoes. Do sleep on back or unoperated side (place a pillow between your knees to help avoid turning over during sleep. Don't Do not rub or bump the operated eye. Do not get water in the eye. Do not strain. Do not get constipated. Do not lift anything heavier than 20 lbs., for the first week, after surgery. Do not go swimming until your eye surgeon says you can. Do not play contact sports. Do not put your head down below your waist for 2-3 days when bending over.

5 How to put in Eye Drops 1. Wash hands before and after putting in eye drops. 2. Pull the lower eyelid down. 3. Put the drops into the space between the lower eyelid and the eyeball as shown in the picture. 4. Close your eye, wipe away any drops or tears with Kleenex. 5. Wipe from inside to outside of eye. Contact your eye Surgeon if: Your operated eye becomes very painful or swollen. There is an increase in mucous discharge There is a decrease in vision in your operated eye.