What to Expect

Undergoing any type of eye surgery – no matter how large or small the procedure – can be a bit frightening. At Henry Ford, we provide various eye surgeries, including:

• Traditional cataract surgery
• Refractive surgery
• Laser vision correction
• LASIK
• PRK

Before surgery: What to expect

While each procedure requires a slightly different preparation method, your doctor may perform a variety of tests to collect data, including the size and shape of your eye, the curvature of your cornea and other necessary information to ensure a comfortable procedure.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you may be required to not wear them in the days leading up to your surgery.

Your ophthalmologist will inform you of any pre-procedure restrictions, such as medication restrictions and other precautionary actions.

During surgery: What to expect

Eye numbing drops or other forms of anesthesia are administered, although the patient is typically awake for the procedure. An anesthesiologist may be present to ensure patient comfort and monitor vital signs.

Many of the procedures we offer take about 30 minutes to complete, and patients go home the same day they undergo surgery.

After surgery: What to expect

Your specific procedure will determine your recovery time, but in some cases, like those who have LASIK surgery, results are noticeable immediately after surgery – and most patients go back to work the next day after their procedure.

For a few hours after surgery, you may notice some eye discomfort. Healing times will vary from few days to weeks, and complete results may not be fully noticeable until weeks after the surgery.