Glaucoma Surgery Instructions

• Make sure you read your instructions carefully and thoroughly.
• Failure to read and follow these instructions can result in your surgery being cancelled or rescheduled.
• Make arrangements to have an adult drive you to and from our facility on the day of surgery. They will need to remain in the waiting room throughout your surgery.
• Plan on being at the facility for at least 2-3 hours.
• If you develop a cough or any other illness that is concerning to you please call to reschedule your surgery. You must not cough during surgery.
• Please make sure to have all of your medications ready several days before surgery to avoid any delays.
• Please discontinue any aspirin or blood thinners 1 week before your surgery if allowed to do so by your doctor or cardiologist. If your doctor needs to send a surgical clearance, please fax to (432) 694-7414.

MEDICATIONS YOU WILL NEED:

• The following eye drop prescriptions will be called in to your pharmacy:
  • VIGAMOX (antibiotic)
  • DUREZOL (steroid)
  • ATROPINE (pain reliever)
  • ___________________

**Your antibiotic eye drop will be started the day before surgery, the other eye drops will be started after surgery and you will get those instructions in recovery**

• If you were given a prescription for Valium (Diazepam), you will have to take the written prescription to your pharmacy to get it filled. We CANNOT call it in because of the type of medication it is. If you did not receive a prescription it will be given to you when you get to the pre-op area.

THE DAY OF YOUR SURGERY:

• You may eat breakfast and/or lunch and take any medication that you normally take other than aspirin or blood thinners.
• Make sure you take your blood pressure medication. Increased blood pressure will cause delays for your surgery.
• DO NOT wear eye makeup on surgery day!
• Please arrive at the time your appointment was scheduled. There is no need to arrive early.
• Please sign in at the front desk.
• After you sign in you may take your Valium (Diazepam) pill and then have a seat in the waiting room. Please DO NOT take your pill before arriving at the facility, it could wear off before you have your surgery.
  **This medication can cause dizziness or drowsiness, please use
  caution and ask for assistance if needed.**
• The pre-op nurse will then come and get you and take you to the pre-op area.
• You will be taken back to an operating room for your surgery.
• After your surgery you will be taken to a recovery area. You will be given discharge instructions and then you will be able to go home.

AFTER YOUR SURGERY:

• You will have a patch and shield covering the eye that had surgery. DO NOT remove this! The doctor will remove this the following day at your post-operative appointment.
• You will need to stop any glaucoma medications in the eye that had surgery. You may continue your glaucoma drops in the other eye as normal.
• Please bring your eye drop prescriptions to your follow up appointment.