After meeting with one of our cataract surgery specialists, you may decide to proceed with surgery. Scheduling the surgery will be done with our surgical coordinator Dracie Knudsen. She will assist with ordering the drops needed after surgery and coordinating the scheduling of the surgery and post-operative visits.

We perform this surgery at Friendship Ambulatory Surgical Center in Friendship Heights. It is an outpatient surgery, meaning you will go home the same day. You will need someone to take you home the day of surgery. After your surgery, all of your post-operative visits will take place in our main office in Bethesda.

The surgery itself only takes about 15 minutes and requires “twilight” sedation with the aid of an anesthesiologist. If you have any concerns about anesthesia, please share them with us during your pre-operative visit. Patients are usually able to drive approximately 24 hours after surgery after the effects of anesthesia wear off. 

Surgery is always done on one eye at a time, usually 2-3 weeks apart. Patients lay on their back during the surgery. The staff can arrange for pillows under your knees or back if it helps make you more comfortable.

Prior to surgery, your health will need to be medically optimized by your primary care physician. We will give you a clearance sheet for them to sign off on within 1 month of your surgery date. They will discuss with you if any medications need to be adjusted prior to surgery or if they recommend any further testing to be done prior to surgery.

In addition, we make an office visit for you to see us prior to surgery to take measurements of your eye so that we can decide which intraocular lens is the right choice for you. This is a complex decision with no perfect answer; however, we will do our best to guide you based on your wishes.

Part 1: What is a Cataract?
Part 2: Cataract Surgery with Champlain Ophthalmology
Part 3: Which Intraocular Lens Should You Choose?
Part 4: Laser Cataract Surgery
Part 5: Dropless Cataract Surgery