Patient Information
Patient information for Croydon Eye Clinic's Day Surgery patients and important information to help for post cataract patients. Please have a read through this information to help you with knowing what to expect. If you have any further questions please contact us.
Day Surgery Information
Your accommodation will be in the day Procedure Room. This room is furnished with comfortable recliner chairs as most patients recover very quickly from their sedation and prefer to move around soon after the operation. Most day patients, both male & female, are admitted to the Day Procedure room, though occasionally, a special medical condition may require that a day patient be admitted to a standard ward.
Prior to Admission
You would have already completed the Hospital Admission Forms and handed them into the Croydon Eye Clinic. Please ring your Private Health Fund to ensure you are covered for your procedure, the item number they will need to know is 42702. Also, ask about your excess payment, if you have not already paid one for the calendar year, you may be required to pay this upon admission. All hospital accounts other than the amount covered by your insurer must be settled on admission. The hospital accepts Cash, Visa, or Mastercard, but no cheques.
Medications
Bring all current medications with you on the day. Continue to take your normal medications unless told not to by your doctor. Your doctor or anaesthetist can advise you if medications need to be ceased prior to surgery, and which medications should be taken on the day of surgery. Please check if you are unsure.
All medications given to you during your stay are ordered by your doctor. You will receive additional medication on your first post-operative visit at the Croydon Eye Clinic for which a bill from the chemist will be enclosed. You may pay at the chemist or you may wish to leave the exact amount with us so we can forward on to the chemist on your behalf. If you have been issued a Medicare Safety-Net, please inform Eastfield Pharmacy on 9723 1093 within the week.
Fasting
Your operation is in the afternoon, so you may have a light breakfast before 8 am then fast.
On a rare occasion, your operation may be in the morning, if this is the case, you must fast from midnight.
When fasting please do not chew gum or eat lollies. Your stomach must be emptied of food and water before your operation.
Smoking has been banned from within the hospital grounds by government regulations.
Before Your Operation
On the day of your procedure, please have a shower and wash your hair.
Please present yourself to the hospital at the appointed time as advised by the hospital.
Please wear loose comfortable clothing and flat shoes.
Bring all your medication in their original containers.
Please ensure you have your Medicare card, Pension or Health Care card, DVA or Private Health Fund Card, or Pharmaceutical Benefits Card.
Do not bring valuables or electrical equipment into the hospital.
Discharge
Most patients are ready for discharge 1-2 hours post-operatively. Your nurse, and/or your doctor, will advise you on this matter. Please see the nursing staff before you leave the hospital to ensure you take home your medications and valuables etc.
A responsible adult must take you home, You cannot drive with an eye patch, and you must not go home by public transport.
It is important to have someone to stay with you for 24hrs following your operation.
Light refreshments will be served before you leave: sandwiches, tea/coffee/juice.
As the anaesthetic may affect your reflexes and judgment, you should not drive a car, operate machinery, make major decisions, or conduct business for 24hrs following your operation. Do not drink alcohol for 24hrs following also.
You will be required to wear a patch/cone, over the operated eye for the next 7 nights as extra care must be taken in the initial period to ensure safety.
Call the Hospital Before the Operation If:
- You are unsure of any of the above instructions
- You become unwell
- If your eye becomes red or sticky before the operation
- You get a cold or flu
- You are admitted to another hospital
- You need to cancel your operation
- Escort or carer details change
Post Cataract Operation Instructions
Leave your eye pad on until you see the doctor the next day. Do not operate machinery for 24hrs.
You may experience some mild eye ache and irritation, this is normal, and will lessen after the first few days with the instillation of eye drops. Take Panadol/Panadeine if necessary.
The eye may water after the operation, mop the tears from your cheek, do not rub or squeeze the eye at any time. Use your eye shield at night for one week.
You may shower and wash your hair with your head tilted back, taking care not to rub the eye or have soap directly in contact with the eye.
Do not bend down to pick things up from the floor, squat/bend at the knees instead.
Do not swim for 1 month, and no strenuous activity for 2 weeks following your eye surgery.
Vision
Your vision may not be properly focused for some weeks after the operation, mild fluctuation in vision may be experienced.
It is not unusual for floaters to be noticed following surgery.
Should you experience any sudden or dramatic change in vision, the onset of severe pain, or seeing flashes of light, please report to your surgeon immediately. Dr. Nazari, or attend the Emergency Department at The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital.
Eye drops
These will be given to you at your first post-operative visit. Wash your hands, shake the bottle gently, and instill one drop into the pulled and cupped lower lid. The dropper should not touch the eyelid or lashes, close your eye gently. Wait 10 minutes and then instill the other drop. Use them 4 times a day till the bottles are finished, in about 3 weeks’ time.
Chemist's Account
You will receive an account from Eastfield Pharmacy for the eye drops at your first post-op appointment. You can either pay them directly, or we are happy to forward your payment to them on your behalf, if you would like us to do this for you, we ask that you leave the exact amount with us.
If you have reached Safety-Net Status, please ring Eastfield Pharmacy on 9723 1093 prior to your surgery to advise them.
Driving
As to when you can drive will vary with each person. Please ask your doctor for advice on this.
Do not drive with the eye pad on.
Glasses
You may use your old glasses if you wish. However, leave them off if you feel more comfortable without them, as your depth of perception may be affected. You will be checked for new glasses 3-4 weeks after your operation. In the meantime, you may use a pair of temporary glasses.
In the week following your surgery, UV sunglasses may be useful outdoors, as it is normal for your eyes to be glare sensitive.
You will be required to wear an eye shield over the operated eye for the first 7 nights as extra care must be taken in the initial period to ensure safety.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment may be given some months or years after the operation to sharpen up your vision if necessary.
Fees
If you do not have Private Health Insurance, Vermont Private Hospital will bill you on admission, their fee includes the cost of the lens used for you on the day. You will also receive an invoice from your anaesthetist. The surgeon’s account will be given to you on your second post-op visit.
If you are adequately insured with a Private Health Fund for hospital cover, most fees, including your surgeon’s fee, will be covered. VPH has undertaken to bill your fund directly.
Please note, there may be a GAP/OOP fee payable for your surgeon, and possibly, your anaesthetist.
Appointments
Two routine post-operative appointments will be made and given to you prior to your surgery. It is imperative that you keep these appointments.
However, you must seek attention earlier if your eye becomes:
Very sore or red, you experience flashes of light, or if your vision becomes blurred over the next few weeks.
Tips For a Safe and Speedy Recovery
- Lead a normal life, but NO strenuous activity for 2 weeks.
- A mild pain killer eg. Panadol (2 Tablets) may be taken if necessary.
- Do not operate heavy machinery for at least 24 hours following your surgery.
- Have someone else drive while your eye is healing. You must not drive with an eye patch/cone, on.
- Try to shower or bathe from the neck down. Wash your hair with help of a friend or relative, tilting your head backward, and take care when washing your face for the first 3 days, you cannot get water in your eye.
- You may shave the day after surgery.
- Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye for the first two weeks after the operation.
- Wear UV sunglasses when outdoors.
- You may watch TV unless it causes discomfort.
- No Alcohol for 24 hours post-anaesthetic.