At Any Time: Call the office IMMEDIATELY (415) 454-5565 if you have any problems!

Pre-Operative Instructions

Appointments:

  1. Pre-operative eye exam with surgeon
  2. Intraocular lens measurement and power calculation. Contact lens wear may cause an error in the results of the implant power measurement. Because of this, soft contact lenses must be removed one week prior to appointment. Hard contacts are generally removed for 2-4 weeks.  Timing can vary, special instructions will be given to you by your technician.
  3. Physical exam, lab work & EKG with your Primary Care doctor Schedule this appointment with your primary physician. Your physical exam and lab work needs to be completed within thirty days of surgery.

Transportation Arrangements

Arrange transportation to and from the surgery clinic for the day of surgery and the day after surgery. Please be flexible, it may be necessary to adjust your arrival times.

Two Weeks Before Surgery

DISCONTINUE: certain Glaucoma Drops: (FOR THOSE WITH GLAUCOMA) Pilocarpine, Isoptocarpine, Pilogel or Carbachol in the SURGERY eye only. Other types of glaucoma medication should be continued unless you are specifically instructed otherwise.

Continue: all other glaucoma drops should be continued.

Male patients taking FLOMAX® (tamsulosin) for urinary frequency MAY BE ASKED TO STOP PRE-OPERATIVELY. You MUST report using FLOMAX® to your surgeon. Special measures will be necessary to compensate for ocular effects of Flomax®. While patients taking Flomax® generally do quite well with surgery as long as the doctor is aware of it beforehand, they remain at higher risk of problems than the average individual. Click here for more information on Flomax. If you are asked to stop, and stopping causes intolerable side effects, resume the medication and give us a call to inform us.

COUMADIN (warfarin), Aspirin, and Plavix are usually CONTINUED, unless your INR test result is more than 3.0. The INR should be checked before surgery. Consult your primary care physician. THE EXCEPTION TO THIS WOULD BE PATIENTS UNDERGOING COMBINED Cataract ond Glaucoma surgery.

Three Days Before Surgery

Begin using your eye drops in your operative eye as follows;

  • Ofloxaxin (antibiotic) use one drop in your operative eye three times a day.
  • Ilevro (anti-inflammatory) one drop in your operative eye once a day at bedtime.

Remember: You only need one eye drop from each bottle (more is not harmful at a single time), in any order that you like. It doesn’t matter which bottle of eye drops you use first. It is important that you wait five minutes between each eye drop, so that the medicine has a chance to be absorbed before the next drop comes along.

Morning of Surgery

Use your eyedrops on the day of surgery as well, before and after.

EVERYONE:Wash your hair the night before so it can be avoided for the first two days after.

The Day of Surgery

At home before surgery

DIABETICS: If you are INSULIN-DEPENDENT your surgery will be scheduled early. DO NOT TAKE YOUR MORNING INSULIN; instead, bring your insulin to surgery for administration after surgery.

EVERYONE:

  • No solid food for 6 hours prior to your surgery.
  • No thick liquids after midnight (Milk, cream, orange juice, prune juice.)
  • Up to 2 hours before surgery, we encourage you to drink clear liquids (coffee, tea, apple juice, water, soft drinks or meat broth.) Sugar in your coffee and tea is okay, but no milk products.
  • You Must Take usual morning medications, except for Insulin and other diabetic medication, prior to arrival at the surgery center. (Heart, High Blood Pressure, Chronic Pain, Seizure, or Tremors) Take with a sip of water only.
  • Put your pre-op eye drops your surgery eye.
  • Completely and thoroughly remove all face makeup. (This includes all types of oils, lotions, sunscreen, facial moisturizer, liquid foundation, powder, eyeliner, mascara, eyebrow pencil, and eye shadow. Lipstick is okay!)
  • Please remove all of your jewelry and leave it at home. (Wedding bands and small earrings are okay.)
  • Wear comfortable clothing. Please wear shirts or blouses that button or zip up the front. Long sleeves are okay as long as the fabric is lightweight.

Checklist for the DAY OF SURGERY

  1. I instilled my surgery eye drops in surgery eye.
  2. I took usual morning blood pressure, heart, seizure, chronic pain or tremor medications with a sip of water. (If you are treated for these conditions)
  3. I have no cream, lotion or makeup on my face. (Lipstick is okay)
  4. I removed my jewelry and left it home.
  5. I have not eaten any food since midnight.
  6. I did not drink any clear liquids for four hours before my surgery.
  7. I am wearing a lightweight blouse or shirt with a zipper or buttons down the front.
  8. I have arranged transportation to and from surgery today, and also tomorrow for my post-op appointment.

Surgery day at Marin Ophthalmic Surgery Center

Our Surgery Center is located across the hall from our clinic in room 260. Upon arrival please check in with our receptionist located at the desk in the main hallway. The nurse will provide you with a cap to wear over your hair and a gown to be worn over your clothing. You will be assisted to a comfortable reclining chair where you will rest. An anesthetic eye drop will be administered followed by dilating gel. Your general health is monitored, and an anesthesiologist will start your IV and administer appropriate sedation. Sedation and topical or local anesthesia will be given to ensure your comfort before, during and after surgery. After your surgery you will be offered something to eat and drink. Your IV will be discontinued and the nurse will review your post-op instructions with you. This is a good opportunity to get any questions answered that you might have. You will need someone to drive you home after surgery. Plan on spending approximately two hours at the Surgery Center.

Postop Instructions

Day of Surgery:

Take it easy. Resume your pre-operative drops and start any additional medication given to you on discharge. Watch TV, if you like. You may read if it doesn’t cause any discomfort. Resume your normal diet. Do not strain to lift, don’t rub your eye. Take 1-2 Tylenol tablets every 4-6 hours if needed for mild discomfort. Call if that is insufficient. Blurry vision, tearing and a sandy feeling are common the first day after surgery. Close your eyes to rest them if this occurs.

For serious discomfort Call (415) 454-5565 at any time.

Permitted Activity Week by Week

The day after surgery

  1. Please have someone drive you, to your appointment.
  2. Please bring your eye drops with you to your appointment.
  3. Instructions will be given to you regarding your medications.

One-day Postoperative visit all patients must be seen the day after surgery by your surgeon or one of his associates. This must be incorporated into your schedule and transportation plans. Someone else should drive. The eye will be examined and instructions reviewed. Bring all medications, instruction sheets and supplies to every post-operative visit.

During the first week

Avoid getting soap in your eye. Avoid creams lotions and make-up around the operated eye. Wear eye glass protection, especially outdoors. Use moderation in your activities: Walking, running and golf are OK. Wash your hands carefully and avoid touching or rubbing your ere. Do not swim, lift weights or engage in contact sports, including tennis and racquetball.

During the second week

Don’t engage in activities risking direct impact to your eye. Still no weight lifting, aerobics are OK. Wash your hands carefully and avoid touching or rubbing your ere. Wearing eye make-up is okay. There may be some redness, itching, mild discomfort or bruising around the eye. These sensations will decrease and your vision will improve progressively.

2-Week Postoperative visit

We plan to give you a new prescription for glasses. You may wish to fill this prescription at our Optical Gallery. Ask your physician whether there are any continuing activity limitations. Our Optometrist will recheck your vision and if there are any problems refer you to your surgeon.

Call the office IMMEDIATELY  (415) 454-5565  if you have:

  • Pain unrelieved by Tylenol.
  • Persistent irritation.
  • Increased redness or discharge.
  • Worsening vision.
  • Spots or flashes in your vision.
  • Any sensations or worries that concern you.