Having surgery

The surgery can be done under local anaesthetic (where the eye is numbed) or general anaesthetic (where you will be asleep). The type of anaesthetic used depends on the surgeon and the patient. This will be discussed with you before your surgery.

You can read our information about having an anaesthetic. 

Preparing for surgery

You will have a pre-assessment appointment a few weeks before your surgery where more information will be given to you.  

Changes to your medicines 

You might need to make some changes to your medicine before surgery.

Do not make any changes to your usual medicines, and continue to take them, unless you have been told not to. Please remember to bring them into hospital with you.

You should let us know if you:

• are taking any blood-thinners, such as antiplatelet medicines (for example aspirin or clopidogrel) or anticoagulant medicines (for example warfarin or rivaroxaban). As you might need to stop them temporarily before your surgery
• have diabetes, as you might need to change the dose (amount) of your diabetes medicines
• are taking any regular medicines (including anything you buy from a pharmacy or shop, and any herbal or homeopathic medicines)
• have any allergies to any medicines

More information on stopping medicines will be given to you at your pre-assessment appointment.

Fasting (not eating and drinking) instructions

If you are having a local anaesthetic, you can eat and drink as normal.

If you are having a general anaesthetic, you must follow the fasting instructions given to you at the pre-assessment appointment. 

On the day of surgery 

Please use your eye drops as normal on the morning of the operation unless you have been told not to.  

We advise that you have someone to accompany you after your surgery. You must not drive. 

During surgery

The surgery takes about 30 to 45 minutes. You will be in the day ward for about half a day, and you will usually be able to leave hospital on the day. Sometimes you might need to stay overnight. 

If the surgery is done under a local anaesthetic, you will be awake. Your eye will be numbed with eye drops and a small injection will be given around your eye. This can cause a feeling of pressure or brief discomfort, but you should not feel pain. The anaesthetic may take several hours to wear off and can temporarily affect your vision.

If the surgery is done under general anaesthetic, you will be asleep.

During the surgery, an opening is made through the thin membrane (conjunctiva) which covers the white of your eye. The conjunctiva is closed with stitches. A small raised area may be felt under the upper eyelid, but this is not usually visible. 

A medicine called Mitomycin-C is applied during surgery to reduce scarring and to enhance the long-term success of the surgery.

Medicine - Taking an unlicensed medicine

The use of Mitomycin-C for this condition is unlicensed. This means that although the manufacturer of the medicine has not specified it can be used in this way, there is good evidence it will help with healing. Mitomycin- C it has been used routinely in eye surgery for many years.

You can read our information on unlicensed medicines.