Posted by: SightTrust Eye Institute in Cataracts
Cataract and Refractive Lens Exchange surgeries are some of the most common and successful procedures performed worldwide. Since these procedures only take about 10 minutes per eye, many patients only require anesthetic eye drops to numb the eyes for the procedure. However, some patients may be anxious about the idea of undergoing a procedure on their eyes. For this reason, mild sedation is often provided to reduce or eliminate any anxiety.
While sedation can be administered through an IV, this option is invasive and can end up causing more anxiety than the procedure itself. At SightTrust Eye Institute, we are continuously looking for better ways to improve our patients’ experiences, and after careful research and investigation we are excited to offer oral sedation for our patients. This allows us to provide needle-free sedation with all the benefits of IV but with less risk. Let’s look at some of the benefits of oral sedation.
- Oral sedation can help reduce anxiety.
With this option for anesthesia, patients don’t feel like they are having a major medical intervention. They can eat and drink before the procedure, there is no need to change out of their clothes, or even see a general doctor prior to having the surgery. IV sedation requires needles, which can be anxiety provoking for many. There are no needles necessary with oral sedation; a simple oral medication provides the same level of relaxation. - It has a quicker administration time.
Oral medication is administered either in a swallowable form or under the tongue – or both. Its effects can be felt as quickly as 2-3 minutes after taking it, with the full effect being felt within about 15 minutes. The sedation can last about an hour, which easily keeps you comfortable throughout the duration of these quick procedures. - There are fewer complications with oral sedation than with IV sedation.
IV sedation comes with certain risks, such as bradycardia, hypertensive and hypotensive episodes, and postoperative drowsiness and nausea, which can all be avoided with oral sedation. - Reduces the need for a preoperative assessment.
With anesthesia administered by IV, a preoperative assessment is often required to ensure a patient is not at risk for any complications. They may need to schedule an appointment ahead of the surgery with their primary care physician to receive a history, physical, and electrocardiogram, and many patients don’t enjoy going to these appointments prior to surgery. These steps are not necessary with oral sedation.
As you can see, there are many benefits to needle-less surgery. Patients can simply take a tablet or two and experience the same relaxing effects of IV in just minutes. At SightTrust Eye Institute, we are proud to be able to make your procedure as pleasant and enjoyable as possible with minimal frustration or downtime. If you’ve been putting off cataract or refractive lens surgery due to fear of IVs, oral sedation will help put your mind at ease. Call our office today, and we’d love to discuss what options are best for you and your vision. Contact us at: (877) 878-7890 / info@sighttrust.com.
Sources:
https://iorpartners.com/anesthesia-and-office-based-surgery-less-is-more
https://www.ormanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ORMVol22No2EyeCenterOralSedation.pdf
https://crstoday.com/articles/oct-2023/moving-toward-iv-less-anesthesia
https://sjeyeassociates.com/dropless-iv-free-cataract-surgery-vineland
