Eye Surgery Instructions

**IF YOU ARE HAVING AN EYELID PROCEDURE PLEASE REFER TO THE SEPARATE INSTRUCTIONS FOR EYELID SURGERY**

Before Surgery:

1. Use any eye drops that your doctor has prescribed. You may be asked to start an eye drop in the eye to be operated on the day before surgery.

2. Take your regular medications with sips of water the morning of surgery unless you are instructed otherwise. However, if you are on diabetic medications, they should not be taken the morning of surgery. You may have clear liquids to drink (such as apple juice or black coffee) in the morning as well, but you should not have anything to drink for 2 hours prior to your arrival for surgery.

3. You must have someone to drive you home after the surgery and someone to drive you to your appointment the day after surgery.

4. If you have any other questions about what you should do in preparation for surgery, please call the office at 614-4015 or 784-4185.

After Surgery:

1. You may have a patch or protective shield over the eye following surgery. Your surgeon will let you know if any eye drops should be used the day of surgery.

2. You may resume your normal diet following the surgery, but you should not drink any alcohol for 24 hours after surgery.

3. You may feel like there is something in your eye or feel an itchy sensation. This is normal but it is very important that you do not rub or press on your eye.

4. Your vision may fluctuate, especially the first week following the surgery. Unusual visual sensations, such as streaks or occasional flashes of lights, are common after surgery. You may also be more sensitive to bright light for a short time.

5. You may use Tylenol, aspirin, or your usual pain medications for mild pain in the eye.

6. If you develop severe pain or any significant decrease in vision, please call the ophthalmologist at 614-4015 or 784-4185. After 5 PM or on weekends, call Medical Advice at 973-5100 or go the emergency department at either Morse Avenue or Roseville. There is an ophthalmologist on call 24 hours a day.

7. Avoid any heavy lifting (more than 15-20 pounds) for the first week following the surgery.

8. Wear the protective eye shield at night for 1 week following surgery.

9. It is a good idea to wear eye protection when you are out. This can be your old glasses or sunglasses. The glasses prescription will change after surgery, but it will not hurt your eye to continue wearing your old pair until new ones are prescribed.

10. You will be asked to use several eye drops following surgery, generally an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drop. These are often given 4 times a day, and using them at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime works well. The order in which you give them does not matter, but please wait a few minutes in between drops.

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