​ANAESTHESIA FOR OPHTHALMIC SURGERY (EYE SURGERY)

Most eye surgeries—such as cataract procedures—are performed under a combination of local or regional anaesthesia ("eye block") and light sedation. This ensures you are relaxed, comfortable, and pain-free throughout the procedure.


Before SurgeryA light sedative will be administered through your cannula (IV line). This helps you feel calm and comfortable, and most patients remember very little after the sedative is given.
Once relaxed, a nerve block will be performed around the eye. This involves:
  • Administration of anaesthetic eye drops
  • Cleaning the area with an antiseptic solution
  • Insertion of a very fine needle beside the eye to deliver local anaesthetic
Most patients do not feel or remember this step due to the sedation.


During the ProcedureWithin about 5 minutes, the eye becomes fully anaesthetised:
  • It will gradually close
  • You will not feel movement or see out of the eye during the surgery
You will remain awake during the procedure (unless discussed otherwise), but you will not feel pain. If you do experience any discomfort, additional anaesthetic can be administered immediately.


After SurgeryOnce the procedure is complete, you’ll be taken to the recovery area.
A typical cataract operation takes less than 30 minutes, and the effects of the eye block generally last 4–8 hours.