Eye Surgeons - Dr. Murray McFadden and Dr. Carolyn Anderson

Online Booklets and Information Sheets
All About Cataracts

YAG Capsulotomy

Instructions for
Dr. Anderson's
Cataract
Surgery
Patients

Before The Day
of Cataract Surgery at Langley Memorial Hospital

Before The Day
of Cataract Surgery at McCallum Surgical Centre

On the Day
of Cataract Surgery

After Your
Cataract Surgery
is Complete
Page 1     Page 2

Medications after
Cataract Surgery

This page last updated
March 23, 2003
Designed and Maintained by
Turnaround Type and Graphics

CA-Cataract
After Surgery
Page 1

Instructions For Dr. Anderson’s
Cataract Patients
Once Your Cataract Surgery is Complete

You can go home about one hour after your surgery, once the effects of the anesthetic and/or sedative have worn off. Remember that you are not allowed to drive after any medical procedure, so you must take a taxi or bus or have someone drive you home. You may wish to have someone accompany you. Once at home you can resume most of your usual activities within a few days. To ensure the health of your eye(s) please read this information sheet. If you have other questions or concerns, please speak with Dr. Anderson.

What if I have pain or other problems?
After the surgery, tell Dr. Anderson if you:

  • have severe pain (not relieved by acetaminophen),
  • feel sick or vomit,
  • notice your vision is worsening instead of improving from day to day,
  • see flashes of light or a dramatically increased number of “floaters” (the black specks that sometimes appear in your field of vision).
  • have redness that doesn’t go away with the eye drops that you were given.
Will my vision be better right away?
Your vision should improve substantially within a few days. Many people say they see better immediately after the surgery or once the patch is removed. The degree of improvement will vary with the density of the cataract you had, and may be affected by other eye problems such as glaucoma or macular degeneration.
 
When do I see the doctor again?
Most eye surgeons see their patients the day after surgery, and then one to two weeks later. Dr. Anderson will advise you what timing is best for you based upon the method of surgery. At all visits, the doctor will perform an examination to ensure the incision is healing and your eye is healthy.

Is some discomfort normal?
Most people feel no discomfort after cataract surgery. Some people may notice a gritty or scratchy feeling, as if they had a grain of sand or an eyelash in the eye. They are actually feeling the edge of the tiny (usually invisible) cut made during surgery. Some people experience a burning sensation if, during surgery, their eye became dry or a surgical tool was used to hold the eye steady. This discomfort should disappear within three days. In addition, some of the drugs used during the operation may cause headache, but this is rare.
If you have some discomfort or headache, you can take two regular-strength acetaminophen tablets (such as Tylenol®) every four hours. Do not take acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) during the first two days after surgery, as in rare instances it can increase the risk of bleeding.
 
How do I care for the eye?
If you have a patch and plastic shield on your eye, they should remain there until you return home. You may then remove the shield to instill the drops, but please put it back on when you go to sleep.
 

What is the purpose of the eye drops?
The purpose of the eye drops is to decrease the risk of infection and inflammation after surgery.

You will have enough eye drops to last two to three weeks. Be sure to use the drops as directed. If you don’t use them, you may have redness, swelling or scarring, which can affect the success of your surgery.

And remember, only the eye that was operated on needs drops!
For another four or five days you will put the shield on (with nothing under it) only when you sleep. Doing so will help prevent you from putting pressure on your eye if you roll over when you’re asleep.
 
For the first day or two, be gentle when you wash around the eye area, but bathe normally. Do not rub your eye or put anything in it except the eye drops Dr. Anderson has prescribed for you.
Download a PDF file of both pages of these instructions

Materials produced here are not intended to provide medical information. Rather, the materials are presented for informational purposes only.
None of the materials presented may be relied upon by any person for any medical, diagnostic or treatment reasons whatsoever. None of the materials presented here may be relied upon by any person for purpose other than informational purposes without the express written consent of Dr. Murray McFadden or the person indicated as the owner of the relevant materials. Dr. Murray McFadden disclaims any liability for any injury or other damages resulting from the review or use of the information obtained here. Dr. Murray McFadden asks that any person reviewing the materials presented here obtain specific medical advice and answers to specific medical questions, by a qualified eye doctor.