Anesthesia and Cataract Surgery: What Gets Used?

Quick answer: Most cataract surgery is done with numbing eye drops plus light "twilight" sedation, so you stay relaxed and feel no pain while breathing on your own. General anesthesia (being fully put to sleep) is reserved for a small number of special cases.

Wondering whether you'll be awake? See are you awake for cataract surgery. Here's how the anesthesia options compare.

The anesthesia options for cataract surgery

Numbing the eye (topical anesthetic)

Numbing eye drops block the nerve signals from the eye, so you feel no pain. They're short-acting and wear off soon after surgery. Sometimes a longer-lasting "eye block" (sub-Tenon block) is added at the corner of the eyelid, not on the eye itself, to keep the eye numb for several hours and relax the eye muscles so it stays still.

Twilight sedation

Relaxing medication is given through an IV, putting you into a light sleep or low level of awareness, so most people remember nothing of the procedure. You keep breathing on your own while the anesthetist monitors you closely. Sedation wears off within a couple of hours, but you'll still need a ride home.

General anesthesia

Rarely needed. Modern general anesthesia is safe but carries more risk than sedation, especially with heart or lung conditions. It may be considered for pediatric procedures, significant anxiety, certain neurological conditions (seizures, nystagmus, cerebral palsy), local-anesthetic allergy, or any reason you couldn't lie still.

Personalized cataract care at West Boca Eye Center

At West Boca Eye Center in Boca Raton we match the anesthesia approach to your needs and explain it fully beforehand. Learn more about cataract surgery with Dr. Brent Bellotte, or see the recovery timeline.

Anesthesia is a complex subject. It surrounds both awareness and sensation—two important aspects when it comes to having cataracts removed. 

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