Having eye surgery can be stressful. There are quite a few steps involved in preparing for, completing, and healing from your surgery. With the experienced and professional staff of Boulder Eye Surgeons, we will help make your experience pleasant and memorable. Please call us at (303) 444-3000 or use the contact form to send us an email with any questions.
Once you have discussed with your physician and have decided to proceed with eye surgery a surgical coordinator will call you to schedule your surgery and any follow up care. They will also assist you with any insurance requirements or authorizations.
With the exception of laser procedures, the use of light sedation requires you to have nothing to eat or drink for a minimum of 8 hours prior to your surgery start time. In addition, you will need a driver to drive you to and from Premier Eye Surgery Center on the day of your surgery as well as the office appointment the day after. Nearly all eye surgeries are elective, so if you are ill please call to discuss. It may be appropriate to reschedule surgery.
In most cases, there should be no heavy exertion after surgery. Including any extensive bending or stooping for one week. In addition, water should be kept out of the eye and the eye should be protected. No pools, hot tubs, lakes, etc. for three weeks after surgery.
Pre-operative eye measurements need to be done in our office to calculate the proper lens implant power for your eye(s). If you are a contact lens wearer, it is critical to discontinue contact lens wear for at least 2 weeks prior to your measurements.
Recent advancements in cataract surgery technology have given patients many options and choices. From the options of laser surgery to premium lens implants, the myriad of options can get confusing. To better prepare you for cataract surgery and to allow you to make the most informed decision possible, Boulder Eye Surgeons has provided some informative videos to explain these options.
Femtosecond laser cataract surgery replaces the manual use of knives and needles with the precision, accuracy, and safety of laser surgery. Click here to learn more about laser cataract surgery.
Lens implant options include toric lenses to correct astigmatism as well as the accommodating Crystalens to provide a range of focus. Click here to learn more about premium cataract lens implants.
It is critical that you watch the above videos BEFORE having your eye measurements done in our office. That will allow you to ask any additional questions to your surgeon before deciding which options are best for you.
Blood thinners (i.e. aspirin, Coumadin, Plavix, Pradaxa) do NOT need to be stopped for cataract surgery. However, if you are taking Flomax (tamsulosin) for your prostate, it needs to be stopped for 3 weeks prior to your cataract surgery. Any medication which is stopped for cataract surgery will be able to be resumed within 1-2 days following your surgery but should be confirmed with your surgeon.
Surgery for glaucoma includes laser (ECP), iStent, or trabeculectomy. Preparation for these surgeries is similar to that for cataract surgery, with the exception that all blood thinners need to be discontinued for 1 week prior to surgery. Please discuss with your primary care physician, cardiologist or another prescribing doctor prior to stopping any of these medications.
Usually, no preoperative medications are taken before surgery. Erythromycin ointment is often used for 3-7 days after surgery.
Selenium is usually taken for a few days before and for 1 month after surgery. In addition, antibiotic/steroid eye drops and ointment are taken after surgery for 10 days.
Most laser procedures do not require drops before or after surgery. However, some (i.e. YAG laser for narrow angles) require drops for a few days after surgery. We will instruct you regarding any drop requirements if you are having laser surgery.
97% of our patients would refer friends and family to us.
Boulder Eye Surgeons has been providing comprehensive medical and surgical eye care since 1997. We help patients of all ages in Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, and throughout Colorado to achieve and maintain clear vision. Our goal is to provide professional, compassionate and customized eye care to every patient, every time. We strive to understand your needs and exceed your expectations.