Q: How do I know what time my surgery will be?
A: RAWNY physicians perform surgery at the Brighton Surgery Center. The exact start time of each surgery for the day is determined by the Brighton Surgery Center. A receptionist from the Brighton Surgery Center will call the patient the day before the surgery with the exact time they will need to arrive at the surgery center. If the surgery is on Monday then they will call the Friday before.
Q: When do I follow up with my physician at RAWNY after the surgery?
A: A post-operative appointment with your RAWNY physician will be scheduled for one day after the surgery, and will take place at the RAWNY office.
Q: Should I eat or drink anything before my surgery?
A: You should not have anything to drink or eat after midnight, the night before the surgery. You are asked to refrain from eating and drinking prior to surgery in order to prevent the risks associated with aspirating during your surgery. Your surgery may be canceled if you do not comply. If instructed to take your regular medications for the morning of the surgery, you may do so with a sip of water.
Q: Will I be billed by RAWNY or by the Brighton Surgery Center (BSC) for my surgery?
A: You should expect two separate bills; one from RAWNY and another from BSC. Both RAWNY and BSC take most major insurances and many outpatient surgeries/procedures are covered. RAWNY and BSC both have skilled billing departments that will verify your insurance coverage and submit claims on your behalf. You may find it helpful to contact your insurance provider to better understand your coverage. When checking benefits for the surgery center, make sure you tell the insurance carrier that the Brighton Surgery Center is an outpatient ambulatory facility to assure you receive the correct benefit information.
Depending on your coverage, each patient may have a copay, coinsurance or deductible. You are responsible to pay at the time of the procedure unless other arrangements are made ahead of time with our billing office. Specific questions may be directed to our billing office at 585-442-3411.
Q: Can I drive after surgery?
A: You will need someone to drive you to and from surgery on the day of your surgery. We also require you to have a driver on the day after the surgery to bring you to your post-operative appointment at the RAWNY office building. When to resume driving after the post-operative appointment will be at the discretion of your surgeon.
Q: Do I have to have anyone with me?
A: Yes, we require a driver the day of the surgery and the day after the surgery.
Q: How long will my surgery take?
A: Most surgeries last approximately 1 hour. You should plan to be at the BSC for 3-4 hours including pre-op and post-op periods.
Q: How long is the recovery time?
A: The recovery time for each case is different. Your eye may feel swollen or irritated after the surgery. You may also feel as though something is in your eye following surgery, but severe pain is uncommon, unless there is unusual inflammation or high eye pressure. It is very important to use your medicated eye drops as prescribed in order to help the eye heal properly. It is normal to have blurry vision after surgery, but the vision typically improves over time. If a gas bubble is placed in your eye, the vision will be very blurry after the surgery. Gas bubbles can last anywhere from 3-8 weeks inside the eye, depending upon which type of gas is used. The gas bubble slowly dissolves and is replaced by your own natural eye fluid, but the vitreous does not return. The vision returns as the gas bubble dissipates. You are not allowed to fly in an airplane or drive up to high mountains when a gas bubble is in your eye. It is also advised that you not sleep on your back when a gas bubble is in your eye. It is ok to sleep on your stomach or on your side. If you have silicone oil placed in your eye during the surgery, you may need another surgery later to remove it. If you have any questions about what you’re seeing, call your eye doctor.
Q: How long until my vision improves following the surgery?
A: As with most medical conditions, the healthier the eye is before surgery, the more likely the eye will heal quickly and the vision will improve. Some patients will note a decrease in vision for a few days following the procedure. Others, particularly if a gas bubble or silicone oil is used, may need weeks or even months for the vision to improve. Each surgical case is different and visual improvement may take longer in some patients than in others. You should discuss the expectations of your specific visual outcome with your surgeon.
Q: What should I expect immediately after my surgery?
A: The eye is generally comfortable, patched, and shielded to protect from injury. If a gas bubble or silicone oil has been placed in the eye, your surgeon will give you instructions on how to do any required positioning (such as face-down), and how long you should continue it. Because only light sedation is usually used, patients generally feel well and are ready to leave for home in one hour or less. You will need a driver because hospitals/surgical centers do not feel it is safe for you to drive immediately after surgery.
Q: Will I feel anything?
A: For the majority of our retinal surgeries, a local or “twilight” anesthesia is used to relax the patient. This is similar to the type of anesthesia used during a colonoscopy. For many surgeries, you will remain awake during the procedure and hear the surgeon talking, but will not feel any pain or discomfort.