Patient Resources

Information

PREPARING FOR SURGERY

Your surgeon may order pre-operative tests (physical exam, medical clearance, EKG). Please have these completed at your advised facility and have results faxed to Advanced Eye Surgery Center at 530-342-1799.

If you need to cancel your surgery for any reason, please notify your surgeon and/or Advanced Eye Surgery Center at 530-342-1800.

The amount of time needed for your surgery stay will vary and is subject to change – Timeframes given to you by your physician’s office are estimates only.

Arrival times will be assigned based on the final surgery schedule. Typically you will be asked to arrive about 1 hour prior to your surgery. The week prior to your surgery, a nurse will call you with your specific arrival time and pre-op instructions. If you have not received a call by 2pm the day before your surgery, please call us at 530-342-1800. Please note we are closed on Fridays.

If you have not had a visit with us before, you will need to complete an online health history for our nursing and anesthesia staff to review on Simple Admit. If you have had a recent visit with us (within the last 2 years), a link will be sent to your email address to update your pre-populated health history with any changes since your last visit. Please feel free to call us for any assistance needed in this process.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

Please do not eat or drink anything 6 hours prior to your arrival for surgery. This includes food, water, coffee, gum, mints, lozenges, etc. If you eat or drink outside these parameters your surgery may be cancelled.

  • You must make arrangements for a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery. This person will also need to be present when you register. These are both requirements prior to proceeding with surgery.
  • Bring your insurance card(s) and photo identification. Also bring any glasses needed for reading and signing papers, as well as dark glasses provided by your surgeon's office if having cataract surgery. Leave all other valuables at home.
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing; a shirt that is loose around the neck or that buttons, snaps, or zips is best so nothing has to be pulled over your head.
  • Please do not wear eye make-up.
  • If our billing department contacted you regarding out of pocket expenses due for surgery, please bring payment as instructed.

MEDICATIONS:

Please only take medication for your heart, lungs, blood pressure, or pain on the morning of surgery with small sips of water. Do not take any diabetic medication until you are able to eat. If you take blood thinners, follow your doctor’s instructions.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Upon arrival you will be greeted by the admissions coordinator to complete registration. A nurse will then take you to the pre-op area to be prepared for surgery and review written home care instructions. An anesthesia provider will review your health history and your surgeon will answer any questions. You will be taken to the Operating Room for your surgery accompanied by your surgeon, an anesthesia provider, registered nurse and surgical technicians. After your surgery is completed, you will be transferred to the recovery area where nurses will care for you and assist you with discharge.

DISCHARGE:

Written instructions for home care will be provided for you to follow. A nurse will review the instructions and answer any questions. Be sure to follow these instructions to ensure the best possible recovery from your procedure. Once you arrive home, if you have immediate concerns relating to your surgery or develop fever/chills, severe nausea/vomiting, severe pain, or sudden loss of vision, contact your physician immediately or go to the nearest emergency department.

If receiving anesthesia, please note it is normal for you to have memory loss regarding your surgery and discharge, feel dizzy and/or sleepy after surgery – DO NOT DRIVE, sign legal documents or stay alone for 24 hours.

You will receive a patient satisfaction survey each time you visit Advanced Eye Surgery Center. Please be sure to complete and return your survey after each visit to help us provide the best care every time. Your input is very valuable to us and we appreciate your time in completing the survey!

Surgery for Minors:

If your child is scheduled for surgery, please follow these additional steps:

  • A parent or guardian must accompany a minor and remain at the facility at all times. Guardianship papers are required if legal guardian.
  • Bring your child’s favorite comfort toy or blanket.

Lasers

If you are scheduled for a laser procedure, you will be called the day prior to your appointment with an arrival time. If you have not been contacted by 2pm the afternoon prior to your procedure, please call us at 530-342-1800 and speak to the pre-op nurse. Upon arrival you will need to provide your insurance card(s) and photo identification. If you need glasses to sign papers please bring those as well. Although the actual laser itself takes only a few minutes, you can plan on being here for about an hour to hour and a half as we complete admission paperwork and prepare your eye for the procedure. The following is a copy of the discharge instructions you will receive.