Assuming whoever is to perform the procedure is fully aware of your medical condition, there is nothing to fear. Practically anyone that has surgery has some comorbidity in addition to the main reason for performing the surgery in the first place Surgeons are adept at modifying their procedures to insure operations are safe.

Also consider the surgery itself is very quick, precise, and can be easily paused or even aborted without danger.

Youll go in, have a nice nap or doze, and then be told its over, and then find yourself wondering if they actually did anything at all? Smile.

I'm not on oxygen, but I had my cataract surgery within the past several weeks. The actual surgery for one eye took 20 min - so I'm told. I had anesthesia which would've quelled any coughing. During my lucid time prior to surgery, I was asked if I were on oxygen; they'll do what is needed.

Coughing after surgery and after the anesthesia wore off was the same as pre-surgery. The only thing I needed to "keep an eye on" after surgery was not to rub the operated eye. I began wearing glasses while sleeping because once I awakened when I started to rub my eye.

I had both eyes done several weeks apart, and I usually have a bronchitis cough. They only gave me a local, took about 20-30 minutes, and no problems at all. I think it is like when you sleep, you do not cough it seems. Anyway, the only precautions I had was wearing an eye guard at night so I would not accidently bump the eye healing, and had to do several drops every day for a couple of weeks. I still coughed, but it was not a problem. Go for it. Make sure the anthesiologist knows your O2 level, and all med information.
BJ

As everyone has noted - it isn't the surgery - its protecting the eye while its healing that is the most annoying.

I tried everything, but I just couldn't keep my hands off! I even pilfered my grandson's swimming goggles at one point. (Providing great amusement and endless SCUBA jokes.)

Luckily it lasts less than a week..

Thanks, everyone. The surgery was a success, and I will have the right one done also on the 23rd. Yes, the drops are a pain , but I guess i could be worse. I was losing my vision , They gave me a cough suppressant before the surgery, so coughing was not an issue although the day before i was coughing like crazy. Once again, thanks for your support.

Good for you Glen - like a whole new world of color is before your eye/s - best hank

Thanks for checking in. I'm sort of along the same pathway as you. I went yesterday for a follow-up approximately 2 weeks after 2nd eye surgery; and eye test for glasses. We're both moving along...

i'm so glad it went well for you.
did you get the name of the cough syrup that worked so well?

Glad all went well for you. The drops were a pain true, but so worth it when it is all over and I can see without my glasses except for reading small print !!!

BJ

So glad to hear everything went well. :))

It's wonderful that you can see better and didn't cough through the surgery. Curious what cough syrup they gave you.

I believe that it was just a Robitussin suppressant. It kind of tasted like that. Fortunately, I didn't start coughing hard until two days after the surgery. Of course, with the right eye scheduled for the 23rd I have got to get that under control. My DR will give me a Solu-Medrol injection if I want a few days out. i may do that . That will usually control my cough fro a few days.

I just had both of my cataracts successfully operated these past several weeks. I advised my surgeon of my COPD and also discussed it with my anesthesiologist. It is well known that anesthesia depresses respiration and as such, they chose not to give me the more potent, amnesia causing drug and 2 mg of Versed. All went well, but my normal 94 pulse/Oxy went from its' normal 94 to 79. With the information, the 2nd anesthesiologist gave me only 1 mg and all was good. Everyone is different and for me I was so calm and relaxed and trusted my surgeon 100%, they were comfortable in giving less juice. As far as coughing, they tell cataract patients do keep coughing to a minimum as it could shake up the implant. Good luck! I am so happy with my surgery and much improved eye sight.

The comments are right on time for me. I'm schedulrd to have my right eye cataract surgery on the 29th of July. I had to have a pre-op exam and medical clearance from my PCP, clearance from my Cardiologist(I had an ICD implanted May 21, 2014), an EKG and bloodwork. My PCP said all the excess testing was needed by anesthesiology. It was really encouraging to hear how well all DS members have done with the surgery.

Both eyes are now done. The 2nd one did not go quite as smoothly since he decided to do an extra incision, but the swelling is coming down this morning.

One word of waring for those of you with COPD. They almost called mine off yesterday when I showed up a bit more congested than I was for the one two weeks ago.They get a little scared when they hear the wheezing. I assured him that it was just a normal day for me. if they are not use to hearing or lungs, it freaks them out a bit.