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A member asked:
Do you have to be awake during cataract surgery? from everything that i have read, it seems like i will be awake for my cataract surgery. i am a bit nervous about the thought of someone working on my eyes while i am awake. is there a reason that i can't b
7 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Usually : Usually cataract surgery is done with local anesthesia. This means the eye is numb and the patient is sedated. The patient sees lights and shadows during the procedure, but not any scary details of the surgery. The sedation is adjusted to alleviate anxiety. A general anesthesia, in which the patient is asleep, is possible, but rarely needed.
Answered 10/3/2016
5.4k views
Sedation: You will be sedated during your surgery and will not remember much of it. For such a short surgery (5-10 minutes), it is not worth the risk of general anesthesia albeit small.
Answered 2/7/2020
5.4k views
No: No, you do not have to be awake. But most of the time they do not need to put you to sleep, today's medications relax you so the anxiety goes away. The surgery is typically painless.
Answered 2/7/2020
5.3k views
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