PATIENT INFORMATION
Preparing for Your Procedure
What to Bring with You
1. Current Photo I.D.
- Typically patients bring their driver’s license – if you do not have a driver’s license another form of current photo I.D. is fine!
- If you have already been to our center, please still bring your photo I.D. with you just in case we need to re-scan it.
2. Insurance Card(s)
- If you have more than one card ie; a Medicare card and a secondary insurance card, bring both.
- If you have already been to our center, please still bring your insurance card(s) with you in case we need to rescan it/them!
3. A form of payment for Copayments/ Co-Insurance Payments
- Payments are collected on the day of service.
- Our center accepts payment in the form of cash, checks, and all major debit and credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
- Our center additionally accepts CareCredit credit cards.
- Checks can be made out to: The New York Eye Surgical Center
We have a name stamp here at the center if you would like to wait and have us stamp your check for you.
Estimated Time of Your Visit
Cataract Surgery:
You will be at our facility for a total of about 2-2.5 hours.
Your cataract surgery itself will take about 10-30 minutes. The additional time spent here
includes- check-in, getting you prepared for surgery in our pre-operative area,
waiting for “your turn” to go into surgery in the pre-operative area, and your
time in post-operative recovery.
Post-Cataract Laser (YAG Laser Capsulotomy):
You will be at our facility for a total of about 1-1.5 hours.
RetinaSurgery:
Plan on being at our facility for a total of at least 2 hours.
Your surgeon will be able to give you a more specific idea of how long your actual procedure will take as each procedure time is highly variable.
Glaucoma Surgery:
Plan on being at our facility for a total of at least 2 hours.
Your surgeon will be able to give you a more specific idea of how long your actual procedure will take as each procedure time is highly variable.
Glaucoma Laser Procedures:
- Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT): You will be at our facility for a total of about 1-1.5 hours.
- Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI): You will be at our facility for a total of about 1-1.5 hours.
Oculoplastic, Muscle & Neurological Surgery:
Plan on being at our facility for a total of at least 2 hours.
Your surgeon will be able to give you a more specific idea of how long your actual procedure will take as each procedure time is highly variable.
Cornea Surgery:
Plan on being at our facility for a total of at least 2 hours.
Your surgeon will be able to give you a more specific idea of how long your actual procedure will take as each procedure time is highly variable.
If you are scheduled to have a procedure that is not listed, talk with your physician directly about how long you should expect to be at our facility.
What to Wear
The day of your procedure or surgery, it is ok to shower, brush your teeth, and wear deodorant.
We ask that you wear a shirt that is easy to take on and off,
preferably something that buttons or zips up the front so that you do not have to slip it back over your head after your procedure. We will have you take your shirt off and put on a hospital gown over your upper-half. Your undergarments, pants, and shoes will remain on during your procedure.
If you wear hearing aids, you are welcome to wear them the day of your procedure.
Depending on the procedure you are having done, we may have you take out the hearing aid on the operative side. If we do have you take out a hearing aid, it will be placed in a small plastic container and kept with your other belongings throughout your visit.
If your wear glasses, you are welcome to wear them the day of your procedure.
If we do need you to take your glasses off, they will be placed in a fabric pouch and kept with your other belongings throughout your visit.
What NOT to Wear
If you wear contact lenses, we ask that you not put them in the morning of your surgery.
We ask that no make-up be worn the day of your procedure.
This includes but is not limited to: mascara, eyeliner, eyebrow liner/make-up, artificial eye lashes, concealer/cover-up, foundation, blush, and face powder.
We ask that no hair products be used the day of your procedure.
This includes but is not limited to: hairspray, hair gel, hair mousse, styling creams, pomades, and heat protectants.
We ask that no face lotion or aftershave be applied to your face the day of your procedure.
We ask that no jewelry be worn the day of your procedure.
This includes but is not limited to: earrings, bracelets, watches, necklaces, and other body piercings
Personal Belongings
- Your personal belongings such as your shirt, cellphone, wallet, cane, etc., will be stored underneath your stretcher in a plastic drawstring bag we will give you in the pre-operative area.
- You will remain on your stretcher throughout your visit here at the center.
- You will be rolled into the operating room on your stretcher and you will remain on your stretcher during your surgery.
- You will never be separated from your personal belongings.
- (Personally owned walkers and wheelchairs will be waiting for you in the post-operative recovery area after your surgery.)
What Will Happen
During Your Visit
When you arrive, you will check in at our front desk. At check in, we will need your photo I.D., insurance card(s), and any necessary payments.
Laser Procedures:
After check-in, you will be called back into our pre-procedural area by one of our nurses. Your nurse will take your blood pressure and administer drops into your eye. After you have received your drops, you will head back out to the waiting room. During your time in the waiting room, your pupil will be reacting to the drops you received.
- When your eye doctor is ready for you, you will be called back into our Laser Procedure room. Your Laser procedure will be completed by your doctor.
- After your procedure, you will head back out into our pre-procedural area to have your blood pressure taken for a second time. After your second blood pressure, you are free to go!
- There are no driving limitations after laser procedures.
Surgery:
After check-in, you will be called back into our pre-operative area by one of our nurses. Your nurse will then get your ready for surgery by having you change into one of our surgical gowns, putting drops in your eye, and going over your health history, and
starting an I.V. so you are able to receive anesthesia and fluids intravenously. After you are fully admitted, you will wait on you stretcher in the pre-operative area until your surgeon is ready to perform your surgery. Before you are brought back for surgery, your surgeon and your anesthesia provider will come and speak with you.
You will be brought back to one of our operating rooms by one of our operating room nurses. Once you are in the operating room, your nurse will get you positioned and ready for surgery by adjusting your stretcher, putting drops in your eye, and making sure you are
warm and comfortable. Once you are prepared for surgery, your doctor will come in and complete your surgery.
When your surgery is complete, you will be brought out to our recovery area where you will be monitored and your I.V. will be removed. Your recovery nurse will print out post-operative instructions for you to take home and ask your driver to pull their vehicle up to the front door. Once your recovery nurse feels you are stable and ready to go home, you will be walked out/rolled out via wheelchair to your car.
You will not be allowed to drive yourself home after the surgery.
Please prepare in advance by coordinating someone who can drive you home from the surgery and help you get settled in for your recovery.
Someone will need to stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery.
This is part of our patient safety policies. Please prepare in advance by coordinating someone who can stay with you.
Dietary Guidelines
- One of our nurses will give you specific dietary guidelines during your Pre-Operative Phone Call.
- Your dietary guidelines are based on the anesthesia you are scheduled to receive.
- If you need clarification regarding your dietary guidelines even after your Pre-Operative Phone Call, feel free to call us to talk with one of our nurses.
- Our phone number is 518-450-1304– for the Nursing Extension press 3
Eye Drops Information
- Your pre-operative and post-operative eye drops are dictated by your individual eye-care physician.
- If you have questions regarding your drops, please call your individual eye-care physician’s office.
- Our eye-care physician’s office phone numbers can be found on the “Our Surgeons” page of our website.
