So some surgeons seem to inject the eye to make it numb for the operation, others put drops? Why the difference? I get the impression that the injection could have side effects plus why inject if drops work too?
I have no idea, injection sounds really old school to me.
But practice is different from place to place, I have also heard that some get IV while they are having lens exchange done, all this stuff seems quite exaggerated compared to my operation…
my eye was made numb with large amount of drops. i was also given the IV at the time of the surgery. the IV is given to help you relax and normally done when the surgeon requires a separate anesthesiologist present. there is a debate among opthalmologists as to whether it is essential or not. of course the anesthesiologist cost is extra. i don’t remember much of the surgery but they were able to get me to my senses to show me the ora readings and decide what i wanted to do. that i distinctly remember. the ora showed that +16.5D lens which in original calculations would leave me -0.32 myopic was now showing -0.19. the surgeon asked if we should go with +17D lens and that would have left me -0.55 myopic. initial calculations showed that +17D would have left me -0.67 myopic. after i decided i was out again. other part of the surgery is a bit twilight. almost as if it is erased from memory.
I didn’t know any used an injection - wouldn’t that hurt? Unless numbing drops used first? I had only the numbing drops only. No injection of any kind.
Some people get an injection / IV more to keep them calm.
I remember my surgeries clearly. Might be a Canadian thing and they keep costs to minimum with our national healthcare system. No IV used - just big vial of numbing liquid poured in my eye. Whole thing took 10 mins. They do many surgeries a day here. You are all in waiting area together and called in one by one like sheep.
I see, well here in Denmark i believe no surgeons use IV for that, but I off course it is just a guess.
I was offered a relaxing pill, but I don´t like that stuff, so i had the surgery with just a few different eye drops, and it worked great, I was ably to get up and leave with a clear head right after the surgeon removed the paper stuff that covered the rest of my face.
And I could see the same second the lights came on in the room, it was quite amazing.
You are all in waiting area together and called in one by one like sheep.
Like sheep to the slaughter house 
I don’t think they give IV here either.
The first surgeon we visited (injection in eye guy) said he gives a tablet that basically puts you to sleep and when you wake up all is done. My wife had this tablet long time ago when they put a tube through her mouth to check her stomach. My wife likes the sound of it.
Any idea what it is?
Eye injection definitely exists. My Mum had injection in the eye during cataract surgery. It felt like a pinch she said (It was UK NHS if I remember correctly).
Dad had few years later and he had just the drops.
My procedure in Toronto was exactly the same as Danish_Viking: topical eye drops to numb the eye, plus a Ativan (lorazepam) under the tongue for a bit of calming. I took the pill, and since it is very low dosage, I didn’t feel or notice any effect, but studies show it helps reduce anxiety helps keep heart rate and blood pressure down during surgery.
During the operation, they monitor your blood presssure and heart rate. I assume they could move to more aggressive sedation or anesthesia if needed.
See article: “Topical Anesthesia for Cataract Surgery: The Patients’ Perspective”
*“For routine cataract surgery, topical anesthesia is preferred because it provides sufficient patient comfort with lower incidence of complications compared to other types of anesthesia”.
If patient complains of pain, doctor can do injection.
I think the trend is to using a low dose “happy” pill under the tongue for routine cataract surgery. See article: “IV-free sedation may help anxious cataract patients”
In Denmark we are offered some type of benzodiazepine, but if lights are completely out, I guess it must be something that is somewhat stronger.
Ouch your poor mom. Glad things improved over the years.
I got the eye drops before and then right before the procedure they put me out for a few seconds to numb the eye with injection then brought me out of it for the procedure. Had both done last year and I an totally happy with it. I feel you need the injection cause the eye drops did not totally work. Had mine done with one of the best and they always do the injection right before you go in to the procedure. Hope this helps and have a wonderful day. Ruby
Thanks for sharing.
I guess it is different from one surgeon to another, I only had some eye drops, no other type of anesthesia, no IV, no pills, so I was at full consciousness the hole time, and I did not feel a thing, no pain at all, and I really did not even feel he was poking around in my eye.
What I don’t understand is, what if you move/roll your eyeball while surgeon is working on it? 
Then I guess the surgeon would tell me to stop doing it - lol
The eye is sedated, so you don´t feel the need for moving your eye as normal, it was just a little annoying to look into the bright light, but it was ok.
I guess most people take the relaxing pill for the same reason, but I have a calm personality from natures side, so I really was not worried about the surgery, I was much more excited to see the result.
During the surgery I dreamed myself away, saw myself riding my motorcycle along the sea, looking over the sea with my new vision, and I heard the surgeon talk in the background with the nurse about his recent trip to China while he was working.
Then I saw the rings from the new lens coming in from the side, and the rings were straight in my eyesight, I was thinking “Oh, there is the new lens, but I think he needs to move it a little bit”, then I could see the rings being moved further, and a clear center was placed right in the middle of the eyesight, and I thought to myself “That looks right, leave it there” and two seconds after the surgeon said “There it is, perfect!” so at least we agreed about that
It went really quick, it felt like maybe 5 minutes, a regular check at the dentist is worse I think, I am not scared about the next surgery at all, I am more worried/excited to see if the vision will become good, you never know with people like me, that are born with cataracts.
But I am counting the hours, I want to get it over with now
I saw the rings of Symfony as it was implanted also - was pretty cool. I had numbing drops and Ativan but Ativan only kicked in once I got home and I took a 3 hour nap! You’re right I’s rather have cataract surgery than have my teeth cleaned - lot less discomfort!
I had no memory at all of the cataract surgery operation after the doctor started. Next thing I knew it was all finished! They did use an IV but they said only to keep you slightly relaxed, but its like I dozed off for the whole thing.
My surgeon injected drugs to minimize the eyedrops I had to take - I only had to take 2 drops a day because of that.
Guessing each surgeon had his preferred procedure.
Likely you were given that conscious sedation drug. I had it when I had to have an Endoscopy exam. You’re awake but barely and feels like you are in and out of sleep.
with laser surgery you eye is locked with the femtolaser machine with a vacuum cup.
I did not know that. my own was done via Phacoemulsification.