ONLINE CATARACT SURGERY PREPARATION PROGRAM

Dear Patient,

Thank you for reviewing these online instructions for Cataract Surgery. We hope this information will provide you with a good idea of what to expect during your surgery, the risks of the surgery, and what you need to do to prepare for it. Keep in mind you will have another opportunity to get this information in person in the eye clinic. So, you don't have to worry about every detail at this point.

Your surgery will be scheduled at our Fremont Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC). The ASC is located in the Embarcadero Building at the Kaiser Permanente Fremont Campus. The surgery scheduler will give you the exact date and time for your arrival, so don't worry about those details right now.

Click here for directions to the Fremont Medical Center

Click here to view a map of the Fremont Medical Center Campus

In order for your surgery to be successful it is important that you understand as much as possible about cataract surgery, and what you need to do to prepare yourself for the operation. The Internet sites below will provide you with everything you need to know.

We start off with general information about cataracts, followed by customized streaming videos, which provide a virtual tour of cataract surgery and important considerations for the procedure. This is followed by detailed preoperative instructions so you can be fully prepared for the operation.

Please take the time to review all of this information thoroughly.

General Information on Cataracts:

Click here for Information on Cataracts from the Kaiser Permanente Health Encyclopedia

Frequently Asked Questions on Cataracts from the National Eye Institute

Cataract Surgery Videos

Part 1: What is a Cataract and what are the risks of surgery?

Part 2: Virtual Tour of Cataract Surgery

Pre-operative Instructions

You will be scheduled for a medical clearance examination to make sure you are healthy for your operation. This will done at our specialized preoperative clinic. You will also be scheduled to have an Electrocardiogram (EKG) prior to your surgery. Please keep in mind this test and the medical exam must be done within 30 days of your planned surgery.

In summary, here is what you need to do:

1. Make sure you keep your appointment for your medical examination and have your EKG done no more than thirty days prior to surgery.

2. Once the Surgery Scheduler provides it, make note of the date and time of your surgery and make sure you have a driver available to bring you to and from the Surgery Center.

3. Make sure to fill your eye drops prescription in the pharmacy. Start the Ofloxacin drop in the eye having the surgery four times per day, starting the day before surgery.

4. Do not eat or drink anything the morning of surgery.

5. Be sure to take your regular medication with a sip of water on the morning of surgery (except diabetic medication because you won't be eating).

6. Please take the time to view the Cataract Surgery Videos and read the other material, which describes cataract surgery, that are included in this message.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. You can reply to us by e-mail with any non-urgent questions you might have.

Here is information you will need to know after your surgery is completed:

Post-operative Instructions

On behalf of all members of the Kaiser Permanente Department of Eye Services, we want to thank you for the confidence you place in us. We wish you great success with your cataract surgery.

Sincerely,

The Hayward/Fremont Department of Eye Services