how did it go? can you be asleep for it? does it hurt afterwards really bad?

I have not had this surgery, but I work in Outpatient Surgery on days the surgeon does cataract removal. This past week, a guy in his 40s had one removed. He was not put to sleep, they just medicated him with topical meds to numb it up and used conscious sedation. When he came out of surgery, he did not have any pain at all. His eye was bandaged with a patch and shield to keep on his eye until the next day when he was to see the doctor. He was not given any pain meds at discharge to home. He was told to take Tylenol or Advil if he had any pain. So, it really is not a bad surgery. No need to worry. Let me know how it goes for you.

I just had the surgery3 days ago. I had an excellent surgeon. He told me the recovery period would hurt more than the surgery. He was right. I had a very large pterygium removed and replaced with some transplant tissue on the top of my eyeball (in short, they cut out the pterygium blob, went to the top of my eyeball, removed some healthy eyeball tissue - and put it in the hole where the ptergium had been).

The surgery did NOT hurt - there were a couple of *ouch* moments - but more uncomfortable than painful. They gave me a valium before the surgery (which I didn't thin would be enough - but it was), rolled me into the operating room, put some numbing eye drops in my eye (which stings a little). H then used some sort of eye opening clamps - which were uncomfortable, but not painful. He waited a little while, and then gave me a shot in my eyeball - yes, that's right - they stuck a needle in my eyeball - but again, it was more uncomfortable than painful - and the medicine stung a little as well. I had a great doctor who talked to me every step of the way. He would say "now, i'm going to give you some eyedrops to numb your eye, it will sting a first...but won't last). Anyways, his communication really helped me with my anxiety. Also, he gave me both stitches and glue.

My other eye was covered up and he did a good job of making sure i didn't see any of the instruments coming at me. Again, he talked to me the whole entire time, made some jokes, and took my mind off the surgery.

HOWEVER....I went home the same day, and about 3 hours later, the local anathesia started to wear off, and i was in a LOT of pain. The doc gave me tylenol 3 and I swear I needed tylenol 8 or something stronger. My doctor did tell me the first 48 hours would be the worse. This was my only complaint - I think he should have given me some stronger pain reliever for the first 48 hours. I took half the bottle of the tylenol in 48 hours ( i was taking 3 pills every 4 hours instead of 1 pill). However, what a differenc 48 hours make. I now feel no pain and don't need any pain reliever at all. My eye does feel uncomfortable - like I have something in it. But it's really not too bad.

So my advice is this: Have the surgery, believe me and your doctor when they tell you it won't hurt - no matter how horrifying it may sound, and definetly tell your doctor you want some serious pain reliever for the first 48 hours (Tylenol 3 is NOT enough).

Good luck with your surgery!