Understanding Eye Surgery

Most eye surgery is done in an operating room or surgery center. Some procedures can be done in a properly equipped doctor's office or clinic. General anesthesia is usually not needed. Instead, anesthetic eye drops or injections into or around the eye are used to prevent pain. Drugs may be given by vein (intravenously), when necessary, to make a person groggy, to ease anxiety and awareness, and to prevent memory.

Common procedures, such as those for cataracts or glaucoma, take 1 to 2 hours, and the person usually can go home the same day. The eye that has been operated on is often patched overnight.

Eye drops are used for several weeks after the procedure. For people undergoing retinal surgery, the head may need to be specially positioned for several weeks. Head positioning is usually done to keep a gas bubble in place against the part of the retina that was detached or torn. For example, after surgery to repair a hole in the macula (center of the retina), a gas bubble may be placed in the eye for days to weeks, depending on the substance that is used. The person is instructed to remain face-down for a specified period immediately after surgery. This allows the bubble to shift upward, which in turn positions the bubble at the macula so that the macula is pushed onto the eye wall to promote closure of the hole. Special pillows and devices are used to assist the person in maintaining eye and head positioning during waking and sleeping hours.

Usually, a person is asked to return to the doctor's office the day after the procedure and again at 1 week and 1 month to ensure that the eye is healing as expected.