Preparing for surgery
If you’ve booked an operation with us, you probably have a few questions about what happens next. What do you need to do before you come into the hospital? How will it work once you arrive? Here’s everything you need to know.
Your surgery journey
We want to ensure that your hospital treatment is as smooth and comfortable as possible. This is how the process works.
Upon booking your procedure, you’ll receive confirmation of your admission date from our Secretarial Team. Shortly after, you’ll receive further confirmation from the bookings department at your chosen hospital.
When arriving at the hospital, you will be welcomed by the reception team. Shortly afterwards you’ll be escorted and settled onto the ward.
The nurses will ask you for details of any medications you’re taking, and run through some straightforward questions about your general health. If you haven’t yet had a biometry, we’ll take one now. This is a quick, painless test to measure the shape and size of your eyes.
Once all tests are complete, the nurse may need to instil the eye drops that dilate your pupils ready for the operation. These drops give the surgeon a clearer view inside your eyes.
The Ophthalmic Nurse will explain what happens before and after your operation, and answer any questions you may have. We’ll also ask you to bring a copy of your signed consent form. This confirms that you have received information about your operation (including the risks and benefits of surgery), that you understand it and are happy to proceed with the treatment.
The nurses will take you to the operating theatre. You will wear your own clothes, so it’s important to make sure you’re wearing something comfortable.
After the operation we’ll take you back to your room to rest and see friends and family. If you’d like a hot meal, we’ll provide one for you.
Your surgeon will visit you to check your progress and answer any questions you might have. Once they’re satisfied that everything has gone well, you’re free to go home to continue your recovery.
! Action Point:
Remember that you won’t be able drive yourself home from hospital. You may like to ask a relative or friend to accompany you, or to drop you off and collect you when you’re ready to go home. If getting to and from the hospital is difficult, we may be able to offer assistance; please alert the secretarial team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once you’ve met with one of our consultants and decided to proceed with surgery, our secretarial team will find a convenient date for your operation. We’ll try to be as flexible as we can, and we’ll arrange for it to take place in one of the private hospitals in your local area. Soon after that you will receive confirmation of your admission date, along with a health questionnaire and some general information about your chosen hospital.
If you’re taking any prescribed medications, it’s very important to tell us about them. In most cases you will be able to carry on taking them in the usual way, but some medicines can cause complications in surgery. These include drugs like warfarin, a blood-thinning agent often used to treat blood clots. If you normally take this medication, we may ask you to stop taking it for a few days before you come in for the operation. You should be able to resume it immediately after surgery.
If you’re having an operation under a local anaesthetic, there are usually no restrictions on what you can eat and drink beforehand. If you’re likely to have a sedative during the procedure, however, you should avoid eating a heavy meal for two hours before you arrive at the hospital. Some eye operations are carried out under general anaesthesia; if this is the case, we will advise you to fast prior to your surgery.
With any form of eye procedure it’s important to plan ahead for transport, as you will not be able to drive yourself home from hospital. You may like to ask a relative or friend to accompany you, or to drop you off and collect you when you’re ready to go home. If arranging travel is an issue for you, we may be able to offer assistance. Please get in touch with the Sapphire team direct, since the hospital bookings office won’t be able to help with transport.
