Your surgeon will measure your eye to determine the proper focusing power for your IOL. Also, you will be asked about any medicines you take. You might be asked not to take some of these medicines before surgery.

You may be prescribed eye-drop medicines to start before surgery. These medicines help prevent infection and reduce swelling during and after surgery.

Your ophthalmologist may ask you not to eat any solid food at least 6 hours before your surgery.

Your eye will be numbed with eye drops or with an injection around the eye. You may also be given a medicine to help you relax.

You will be awake during surgery. You may see light and movement during the procedure, but you will not see what the doctor is doing to your eye.

Your surgeon looks through a special microscope. She creates tiny incisions (cuts, created by blade or a laser ) near the edge of your cornea. The surgeon uses these incisions to reach the lens in your eye. Using very small instruments, he or she will break up the lens with the cataract and remove it. Then she puts your new lens into place.

Usually your surgeon will not need to stitch the incisions closed. These “self sealing” incisions will close by themselves over time. A shield will be placed over your eye to protect it while you heal from surgery.

You will rest in a recovery area for about 15–30 minutes. Then you will be ready to go home.