Your Surgery at Oregon Trail Eye Surgery Center
Preparing For Your Procedure:
Surgery is often a life changing event, and even though procedures performed at Oregon Trail Eye Surgery Center are routine, we want to help prepare you for your experience. Below includes simple steps to prepare you for your procedure:
Crystal Kildow, RN, BSN - Director of Surgical Services
Before Surgery:
1. History and Physical with your Primary Care Provider – You will be asked to make an appointment with your family healthcare provider to be cleared for surgery. Often, your Primary Care Provider (PCP) helps to manage your health history and comorbidities and will ensure that you are cleared for an elective surgery. During your appointment, inquire what medications are important to continue as instructed, particularly heart, diabetes, and respiratory medications. Be sure to mention aspirin, ibuprofen, and any other “blood thinning” medications you are taking.
2. Laboratory Tests – Your Primary Care Provider may ask you to have some laboratory tests completed prior to your surgery date. These should be completed prior to the day of surgery.
3. Preoperative Exam - You will be given a date and time for your preoperative exam to take place at Oregon Trail Eye Surgery Center. This exam is 1-2 weeks before your surgery date. This appointment will help obtain your health history, get a list of all your medications, take several measurements of your eyes, and go over instructions with a Registered Nurse. Please bring a current medication list, if available, as well as your eye drops from the pharmacy. We will go over preoperative instructions with you at this time.
4. Transportation – For your safety, you will not be allowed to drive after your surgery. You must arrange to have a responsible adult escort you and drive you home after you are discharged from Oregon Trail Eye Surgery Center. Please do not plan to use public transportation, as it is important that you have someone present to assist you during your initial recovery period. Please note: as a courtesy to other patients and families, we ask that 1 family member/driver accompany you to your procedure over the age of 19. They will be given an opportunity to wait in our quiet, serene patient waiting room throughout the duration of your procedure or they may leave the facility and leave their information for the receptionist to call by phone when you are ready for discharge.
5. Appointment/Check-In Time - You can expect a phone call for a check-in time 1-4 days prior to your surgery date. Our surgery schedule changes frequently, therefore is subject to change at any time. We do our best at accommodating our patients and their travel locations and appreciate your understanding.
Night Before Surgery:
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Eating and drinking – DO NOT have anything to eat or drink after midnight. This includes, gum, candy, mints, food, chewing tobacco, snuff, and water. Undigested food or liquids in our stomach can cause complications during surgery. Your surgery may be postponed if you eat and drink after midnight on your scheduled surgical day.
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Medications – Take medications as instructed during your PCP and Preoperative appointment.
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Bathe or Shower – You may bathe or shower the night before or morning of your procedure.
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Smoking – Please do not smoke after midnight of the day before your procedure.
Day of Surgery:
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Checklist – Below is a checklist to help you be prepared for surgery:
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You may shower or bathe the morning of the procedure.
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You may brush your teeth but be sure not to swallow any toothpaste.
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Wear loose comfortable clothing. Preferably a short-sleeved button up shirt.
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Wear comfortable slip-on shoes.
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Leave all valuables and jewelry at home.
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DO NOT wear makeup. It will have to be completely removed prior to the procedure to minimize the risk of infection.
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Bring insurance cards and/or Medicare cards with you to be copied.
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Take all medications, including eye drops, as instructed by the preoperative nurse.
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Upon Arrival – After check-in, a nurse will take you to an admission area where they will begin verifying your medical information, allergies, and medications. The nurse will prepare you for surgery in this area. For your comfort, warm blankets and pillows will be provided. You will be placed on a special bed and connected to a monitor that will remain in place throughout the duration of your stay. You may be given a number of preoperative medications, including eye drops. An IV will be started to give appropriate medications intravenously.
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Anesthesia – A Licensed Certified Nurse Anesthetist or Anesthesiologist highly trained and qualified in all aspects of outpatient anesthesia will provide anesthesia services. While in the admissions area, an anesthesia provider will meet with you and discuss your medical background and the type of anesthesia you will have.
Laura will likely greet you at the front desk of the surgery center
Recovery After Surgery:
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Recovery Room - After surgery is completed, you will return to the recovery area where a nurse will check your vital signs and provide you with medication if needed. The nurse will go over discharge instructions with you to care for yourself at home. You will be given a copy of those instructions so that you can reference them when you get home. Written discharge instructions will include the following:
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When to remove the eye patch
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When to start the eye drops and how often to use them throughout the day
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Bedtime instructions for protecting the eye (if applicable)
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Common discomfort symptoms and how to treat
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Normal healing education
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Acceptable activity instructions
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Continuation of medications
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Concerns and what to watch out for
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Next day appointment information
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Anesthesia precautions
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After Discharge – Staff will be available till 5:00 p.m. on the day of your surgery should any problems or questions arise when you get home. For emergencies after 5:00 p.m., please call the office. Our answering service will take your message and contact the surgeon.
Follow-up Care After Surgery:
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Expect a follow-up appointment the day after surgery as well as in 1 week. Depending on your vision, you may need a 1-month follow-up appointment. That will be discussed at the time of each appointment.
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It may take several days to several months to adapt to your new vision. Once your vision has stabilized, you may see your optometrist for prescription lens changes if applicable.
Thank you for your trust in Oregon Trail Eye Surgery Center.
We value your confidence and will do everything in our power to make your surgical procedure as comfortable and pleasant as possible. We strive to not only meet your needs but exceed your expectations of quality eye care.
