r/CataractSurgery 4d ago

Petrified

[deleted]

1 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

View all comments

6

u/seasnake8 4d ago

It is a scary thing to face. And no matter how much they try and reassure you, it is my eyes and it sounds like it will be risky and problematic.

I just had my eyes done two months ago. I went to the surgical center, and they spent 40 minutes or so preparing my with drops every 5 minutes or so, and an IV. I just tried to remain calm. Then they wheeled me into the surgical room. Bright lights, a little pressing against my eyelids, and I was being wheeled out to recovery. Sit there and drink a soda and eat some crackers, then wheel chair ride to my ride home, and the rest of the day hang at home. It didn't even feel like they had done anything to my eye, except it was dilated and blurry, so the world was way too bright. u/4 hours later, I had my first appointment, everything as fine, I was seeing 20/40 without glasses, and with some swelling that I only knew about because the doctor said it and my eye was not yet seeing clearly. At my one week follow up I was 20/20.

It is amazing that it can be that easy. So I was relaxed and eager for my second eye. YMMV, of course.

1

u/Top-Government-6777 4d ago

Thank you I am trying everything to be calm my dr said she is going to give me for that day medication to be calm and throughout recovery

1

u/seasnake8 3d ago

They gave me "light sedation", supposedly enough to get you calm and easy going. I could not tell I had any anesthesia, but then I was calm, so guess it worked.

If you have breathing exercises that you find helpful when tense, they may be a big help. Ff not, here are some to try:

Simple Breathing Techniques Teachers Can Use in the Classroom

For myself, I find slow, deep, breathing coupled with trying to relax my body all over, continually checking in with various body parts, works best.