Preparing for Surgery

• Introduction
• Ten Days Before Surgery
• One Day Before Surgery
• Day of Surgery
• After Surgery
• Before Leaving
• Recovery at Home

• Take all your usual morning medications except diuretics (water pills), insulin or diabetes pills. If you need to take pills after it is time to stop drinking, you may take just enough water to swallow them.
  
  
• If you are unsure about taking your medications, please contact one of our nurses at 734-763-7247, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday.
  
  
• Shower the night before or the morning of surgery. You may brush your teeth but do not swallow the water.
  
  
• Do not wear face or eye make-up or nail polish the day of surgery. You may use hairspray, lotions and deodorant.
  
  
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes and flat shoes. You may want to wear a shirt or blouse that buttons or zips.
  
  
• Remove all jewelry prior to surgery (i.e., rings, wedding rings, watches, earrings, necklaces, body piercings, hair clips and hair pins).
  
  
• If you wear glasses, contact lenses, dentures or a hearing aid, bring along a case to store them in as they must be removed prior to surgery.
  
  
• Do not bring a large suitcase, jewelry or valuables of any kind. You may want to have just enough money to cover any prescriptions.
  
  
• Make arrangements for someone to drive you home after surgery. If you are taking a bus or cab, someone must accompany you.
  
  
• Make arrangements to have help at home while you are recovering from surgery.
  

• Bring your blue hospital card, your insurance card, the name and number of your primary care physician, and any appropriate health care records (lab results, x-rays, etc.).
  
  
• Bring ALL your medications in their labeled bottles (including pills, insulin, inhalers and eye medications).
  
  
• We are pleased to provide free parking for patients and guests. A Departmental Guest Parking Permit is included in this packet. This allows you to park all day in the Kellogg Eye Center Patient/Visitor Parking areas, which normally are limited to three-hour parking. Before you leave your car, please circle the month and date on the permit and hang it from your rearview mirror.
  
  
• For parking questions, please call Kellogg's guest services representative at 734-763-1415.
  
  
• When you enter the Eye Center, please go to the Outpatient Surgery Unit, located on the second floor.
  

Going into surgery

• You will be asked to change into a hospital gown and cap. We will supply you with a plastic bag for your clothing.
  
  
• A nurse will help you prepare for surgery. The nurse will give you the necessary instructions and medications and will check your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate and temperature).
  
  
• The anesthesiologist will examine you and review your health history before surgery to determine the plan for your anesthesia.
  
  
• You will have an intravenous line started to provide fluid and medication during surgery.
  
  
• You may have eye drops administered.
  
  
• An operating room nurse will review medical information with you before you enter the operating room.
  
  
• Your surgeon, the surgical assistant, operating room nurses and anesthesia personnel will be with you during surgery.
  
  
• You will be connected to equipment that monitors your vital signs during surgery.
  
  
• Your family and friends can stay with you until you are wheeled into surgery. Once you've entered the operating room, they will be shown to the family waiting area.