Comments on: Does eye surgery require general anasthesia?

By: Hillbert

Hillbert — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:48:40 +0000

Not usually. Most eye surgeries get done under local anaesthetic, so the eye (and sometimes the eyelids and muscles too) are frozen, so it shouldn’t hurt. You might feel some pressure during the surgery, but no pain. Most surgeons I’ve worked with give some form of sedative as an option too so you don’t freak out during. You’re given eyedrops afterwards to help with the healing process and pain, and usually it’s okay to take normal painkillers (Tylenol, Advil, not aspirin) afterwards if you need to.
It sounds like you’re talking about have a clear lens extraction, which is done with a local anaesthetic and is a very quick procedure. More complicated surgeries (some repairs of retinal detachments or macular holes) or more complicated patients (little kids, people who can’t control their movements) use general anaesthetic, but by and large it’s all local these days. Hillbert

By: Krista

Krista — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:10:11 +0000

Lens replacement is one option but have you checked into simple lasik / ilasik / customvue correction? That doesn’t require general anesthesia. They just numb your eyes. Krista

By: David

David — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:50:33 +0000

i had both lenses replaced due to cataracts. it takes about half an hour. you,re awake. the doc puts drops in your eyes and then operates. no pain. you talk thru the entire procedure. you then get dressed and go home with a cover over your eye. i missed two days of work. David