No, during the surgery, you would be awake and they don’t put you to sleep for the cataract surgery. This facilitation is needed because it eliminates the associated risks with general anaesthesia. In addition to that the cataract surgeon needs to communicate and talk to you, while the procedure goes on.
Though you may have concerns about the idea of no sleep but to be awake during the cataract surgery, there is no need to fear, because you feel no discomfort and fully relaxed, as oral medication is given, before initiating the procedure.
Anaesthesia and Medication
Most commonly topical anaesthesia is given for the cataract surgery. It can be accomplished through instilling medication for long numbing, into the eye. You may also opt for the choice of receiving the medication of IntraVenous or IV, so that you can feel comfortable and remain calm, during the procedure. This medication, in the surgical suite helps you to remember your experience after a brief procedure of 10 to 15 minutes gets completed and they reach to the area of recovery by then. The IV is given usually along with the medication in your arm, intravenously, to feel more comfortable and relaxed. It stands as lesser form of risky anaesthesia and it is done well with most of the patients with topical anaesthesia along with certain intravenous sedation. In certain cases, eyes are numbed by medication injected around the socket of the eye and it also helps to paralyze the movement of eyelid and eye. However, these injections are offered with a few risks and hence are less frequently used.
General Anaesthesia
Sometimes general anaesthesis is required for some patients. As the cataract surgery is performed by giving topical anaesthesia demands cooperation and awareness of the patient, in some cases, general anaesthesia may be required for the patients with dementia and child patients having developmental delays. Patients should lay still and flat, during cataract surgery. Hence general anaesthesia is required for certain patients with restless leg syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease or with movement disorders.
For the patients, who surfer from neck or back pain or disorders or breathing troubles, experience discomfort, while lying flat, for cataract surgery.
Later, you can leave the surgery centre after a short period of surgery, however, after the surgery, you cannot drive. So, someone has to accompany you to drive and take you back home.