Do i have to be asleep for my cataract surgery?

No: Cataract surgery is mostly done with the patient awake, unless there is issues with young age, severe tremors, mental confusion, anxiety/language barrier, etc.

Usually not: Most surgeons actually prefer their pts to be awake during cataract surgery. Usually you given some light sedation to help you relax as well as medicine so that you don't feel anything.

Almost always no: Most cataract surgery is done under topical anesthesia with a mild IV sedative given to "take the edge off." if too much IV anesthesia is given and you fall asleep completely, it is unsafe during surgery because you can wake up suddenly and startle.

No, almost never: Unless a patient has severe anxiety or tremors, they don't have to be asleep. Most people can hold still for the less-than 10 minutes that it takes if their surgeon can talk them through it well. The only other patients who need to sleep for surgery only need to sleep during the injected anesthetic....Which most of us are moving away from. We use eye drops and gels to control pain.

Almost never: Modern cataract surgery involves numbing the eye with drops and mild IV sedation. The only need for general anesthesia is for severe uncooperation or movement disorders.

No: Most patients get numbing drops for the eye being operated on and IV sedation to make them sedated. It is a "twilight" anesthesia similar to what a person gets for a colonoscopy. We want you to be able to follow directions if need be. General anesthesia with a breathing tube is only used for patients that can't lie still or patients that can't cooperate and follow directions.

Most likely not!: Today's procedures can be performed with no sedation or light IV sedation and local topical drops with intraocular lidocaine. Rarely would one need to be put to sleep. Uncooperative patients may be put to sleep. Some doctors still put patients asleep for one to two minutes to give and injection around/behind the eye. This is becoming less common all the time.

No: You will likely only receive a little sedation and will be in a dreamy state.