View Pre-Operative Instructions for Retinal Surgery
View Post-Operative Instructions for Retinal Surgery
View and Download Surgery Related Documents

For any surgery-related questions not answered on this page please email our surgery coordinator Megan at info@bayarearetina.com or call her at our Walnut Creek office at (925) 943-6800.

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Pre-Operative Instructions for Retinal Surgery

History and Physical
Our office will arrange for you to have a pre-operative history and physical with either your primary care physician or an internist on staff at the hospital where your procedure will be performed. This appointment will take place no more than seven days before your scheduled surgery. You must go to this appointment or your surgery will be rescheduled.

Please bring ALL of your medications with you to this appointment. Insulin dependent diabetic patients may have their regular insulin dosage changed the day of the surgery. Discuss this with the doctor at the time of your history and physical appointment.

Lab Work
An appointment to have certain blood tests may be made before your surgery. If your doctor or the hospital does not require this, routine blood tests will be done the day of surgery.

Arrival to the Hospital
Please arrive at the hospital three hours before your scheduled surgery time. Be sure to bring your current medications and insurance cards. Wear loose comfortable clothing and leave any valuables at home. Please arrange for transportation to and from the hospital, as it is hospital policy not to let you drive home following surgery.

Food and Drink
You must have an empty stomach before having retina surgery at the hospital. Do not eat or drink anything, including water at least eight hours before your surgery time.

Discharge from the Hospital
Surgery discharge may either be the same day or the next morning. You may be required to come to one of our offices the day after your surgery to see one of the doctors for your first postoperative visit. The location of your first visit will be discussed with you before your surgery. Make sure you bring the eye drops and any other medication given to you by the hospital to your office visit with us. Again, you must have a friend or family member pick you up, as the hospital staff will not let you leave alone!

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View Pre-Operative Instructions for Retinal Surgery
View Post-Operative Instructions for Retinal Surgery
View and Download Surgery Related Documents

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Post-Operative Instructions for Retinal Surgery

Transportation
You will not be able to drive yourself home after your surgery. Please make arrangements with a friend or family member for transportation to and from the hospital.

Activities
Avoid strenuous activities, heavy lifting or any activity that may cause eye discomfort. You may shower, shampoo, wash your face and shave as needed. Do not get water directly in the eye. Watching television will not hurt your eye. If you have had a gas bubble put into your eye, you may not fly or travel to high altitudes until the gas bubble is gone.

Patching the Eye
An eye patch will be worn for up to one week, with a shield over the patch to protect the operated eye at night. If glasses are worn, they will fit over one patch. Discharge and blood stained tears are commonly seen. Clean your lids with gauze pads or cotton balls and sterile eyewash provided from the hospital each morning. Change the patch as needed wearing a new clean patch everyday.

Eye Drops
Wash your hands before administering eye drops, then gently pull the lower eyelid downward to form a pouch. Tilt your head backward and hold the dropper above the eye and drop the prescribed amount of medication inside the lower lid. Never touch the tip of the eyedropper to your eye or any surface. Wait a minute between drops if you are using more than one. Store the drops at room temperature unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.

Pain or Irritation
It is common to experience irritation or a foreign body sensation for a few weeks after surgery. Lid swelling, discharge and blood stained tears are commonly seen. For mild pain, use Tylenol or Aspirin. If the pain is not relieved, or if there is increased swelling or redness of the eye, please call our office.

Special Positioning
Depending on the type of retinal surgery you have had, your doctor may have instructed you to maintain a certain head position. Special instructions may include face down positioning or right or left cheek down. Specific instructions will be given to you by the doctor regarding your positioning before and after your surgery.

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View Pre-Operative Instructions for Retinal Surgery
View Post-Operative Instructions for Retinal Surgery
View and Download Surgery Related Documents

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Surgery Related Documents

The below documents are available for the convenience of our surgery patients.

All files are in Adobe PDF format. Please click here to download Adobe Reader.

Click here to download the Patient's Informational packet for Retinal Surgery

Click here to download the Patient's large-print handout on Face-Down post-operative positioning.

Surgery Map to Summit Medical Center Click to Download	Surgery Map to John Muir Medical Center Click to Download	Surgery Map to Eden Medical Center Click to Download	Surgery Map to Eye MD Laser & Surgery Center Click to Download
Surgery Map to Alta Bates Medical Center Click to Download	Surgery Map to Mt. Diablo Medical Center Click to Download	Surgery Map to San Ramon Medical Center Click to Download	Surgery Map to Oakland Children's Hospital Click to Download

We recommend the following sites for obtaining face-down post-op recovery equipment and supplies:

• Advanced Health Products
• Rite Time Corporation
• McFee Technologies