Patient Information
Everything you need to know before and after your procedure
We want every patient to feel fully informed and confident at every stage of their care. The guides below cover what to expect at your consultation, how to prepare for surgery, and how to look after your eyes during recovery.
Preparation
Before Your Procedure
Your Consultation
At your first appointment, Mr Vempali will take a full history, examine your eyes, and carry out any relevant investigations. Please bring a list of your current medications, your glasses or contact lenses, and any previous eye records if available. Allow approximately 90 minutes for a comprehensive assessment, as your pupils may be dilated.
Preparing for Surgery
You will receive written instructions specific to your procedure in advance. In general, you should arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you home on the day of surgery. You will need to avoid eating and drinking for a period before your procedure if you are having a general anaesthetic or sedation. Continue all regular medications unless specifically advised otherwise.
Consent
Mr Vempali will discuss the benefits, risks, and alternatives to your proposed treatment in detail before asking you to sign a consent form. You are encouraged to ask questions at any stage. Consent is an ongoing process — you may withdraw at any time before your procedure.
Contact Lens Wearers
If you wear soft contact lenses, you should stop wearing them at least one week before any biometry measurements or refractive assessment. Hard or rigid gas-permeable lens wearers should stop at least four weeks before. This allows the cornea to return to its natural shape and ensures accurate measurements.
Recovery
After Your Procedure
Immediately After Surgery
You will be monitored in the recovery area before being discharged. You will not be able to drive on the day of surgery. Your eye may feel gritty, watery, or mildly uncomfortable — this is normal. You will be given eye drops to use and written instructions to take home.
Eye Drops
Most patients are prescribed antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops following surgery. It is important to use these exactly as directed. Wash your hands before instilling drops. If you are prescribed drops for both eyes, use a separate bottle for each eye. Do not stop drops early without advice from your surgical team.
Activities and Restrictions
Avoid rubbing your eye, swimming, and dusty or dirty environments for at least four weeks after intraocular surgery. You may read and watch television from the day after surgery. Most patients can return to desk-based work within a few days. Driving may resume once your vision meets the legal standard and you feel safe — your surgeon will advise you at your post-operative appointment.
When to Seek Urgent Advice
Contact the hospital or your surgical team promptly if you experience a sudden increase in pain, significant redness, a sudden decrease in vision, or increasing floaters or flashes of light after surgery. These symptoms require prompt assessment. Out-of-hours emergency contact details will be provided at the time of your discharge.
Resources
Downloadable Patient Guides
The following guides provide detailed information about specific procedures and conditions. Further leaflets will be added as they become available.
Cataract Surgery — Patient Guide
What to expect before, during, and after cataract surgery, including information about intraocular lens choices.
Refractive Lens Exchange — Patient Guide
A guide to lens-based refractive surgery for patients seeking spectacle independence.
Strabismus Surgery — Patient Guide
Information about squint surgery in adults and children, including what to expect during recovery.
Dry Eye & Ocular Surface Disease — Patient Guide
Understanding dry eye disease, blepharitis, and meibomian gland dysfunction, and the treatments available.
Paediatric Eye Conditions — Information for Parents
A guide for parents covering amblyopia, squint, refractive errors, and patching treatment in children.
Glaucoma — Patient Information
Understanding your glaucoma diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment options.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not answered here, please do not hesitate to contact the consulting rooms.
Ready to book your consultation?
Referrals from GPs and optometrists are welcome. Self-referral for private consultations is also available.