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Original poster

What happens to your eyes during surgery?

24 replies

Myeyesinanop · 15/08/2023 21:28

Anyone medical about who could advise me please?

I’m due to have a minor abdominal operation in a few weeks, hopefully 1 hour, could be up to 2 I’ve been told.
I have severe dry eye syndrome, need drops 6 times daily and gel at night.
I’ve never had surgery before, what happens to my eyes? Do they stay open or close as if I’m asleep? Will I have to put gel in before they put me out or would someone do this? Doi mention it or just hope they’ll be ok?
Don’t know why I’m panicking over this tonight !

OP posts:
Haggisfish3 · 15/08/2023 21:29

I think they are closed. I imagine you would put gel in them beforehand but deffo mention it at preop meeting.

Aitchtee · 15/08/2023 21:30

If you are having a general anaesthetic then you’ll fall asleep and your eyes will be closed. A long time since I had one but was asked to countdown from 10 and probably didn’t get past 7 😂

vodkaredbullgirl · 15/08/2023 21:31

I remember when I worked in a hospital, they taped your eyes shut. They used surgical tape

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Seaswimmingforthesoul · 15/08/2023 21:32

You'll be asleep so eyes will be closed. They will be able to advise you on the best way to manage this. Definitely mention it. If they know about it, they will be able to help you afterwards if you're a bit drowsy etc. I'd imagine you will need to declare all regular medications anyway x

CyberCritical · 15/08/2023 21:33

They'll be closed just like when you're asleep.

You'll go into theatre and they'll ask loads of questions to make sure you are who they think you are and are getting the right surgery.

They'll put in a cannula, then tell you to count or think of something happy, roughy 1.5 seconds after they say that you'll be asleep. Then immediately after that (or that's how it feels) you'll be awake.

Allchangename354 · 15/08/2023 21:38

The anaesthetist will usually visit you or you may have a pre op appointment. Let them know your concerns.

SallyWD · 15/08/2023 21:38

My son had surgery recently and I was with him while they gave him the anaesthetic. He fell asleep, his eyes closed. They certainly weren't taped shut! He was sleeping.

vodkaredbullgirl · 15/08/2023 21:42

I'm talking about 20 years ago, mainly patients who's eyes were not shut properly.

SockQueen · 15/08/2023 21:47

SallyWD · 15/08/2023 21:38

My son had surgery recently and I was with him while they gave him the anaesthetic. He fell asleep, his eyes closed. They certainly weren't taped shut! He was sleeping.

We tape them closed after the parents leave/after the patient is asleep. In almost all cases, children and adults. (Anaesthetist)

@Myeyesinanop let your anaesthetist know, they can use your own gel if needed.

CoachBeardsJane · 15/08/2023 21:56

We tape them closed in the theatre because the eyes can dry out otherwise (anaesthetist)

MonkeyPuddle · 15/08/2023 22:00

Taped shut (ex scrub nurse)
if I were you I’d just give myself a squirt before and after your op when you get back on the ward.
the theatre staff certainly won’t keep your eyes open during the op, well, we did in Opthalmology but that was needs must.

Original poster
Myeyesinanop · 15/08/2023 22:04

I didn’t expect so many replies. Thanks everyone.
Now I’m freaking out about someone taping my eyes while I’m asleep, I really didn’t know they did that. Keep telling myself I can back out.

OP posts:
SallyWD · 15/08/2023 22:07

SockQueen · 15/08/2023 21:47

We tape them closed after the parents leave/after the patient is asleep. In almost all cases, children and adults. (Anaesthetist)

@Myeyesinanop let your anaesthetist know, they can use your own gel if needed.

Show quote history

Ah OK, sorry

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 15/08/2023 22:10

Myeyesinanop · 15/08/2023 22:04

I didn’t expect so many replies. Thanks everyone.
Now I’m freaking out about someone taping my eyes while I’m asleep, I really didn’t know they did that. Keep telling myself I can back out.

It’s quite “gentle/low tack” micropore tape. You won’t know about it, it’ll be done after you’re asleep and removed before you wake.

underneaththeash · 15/08/2023 22:13

Taped is good, otherwise you could get dry patches on your corneas if you have incomplete lid closure.

I’d stick some stronger overnight drops - lactilube/viscotears in, before the op.

CyberCritical · 15/08/2023 22:21

Myeyesinanop · 15/08/2023 22:04

I didn’t expect so many replies. Thanks everyone.
Now I’m freaking out about someone taping my eyes while I’m asleep, I really didn’t know they did that. Keep telling myself I can back out.

Please please try not to worry. If you have any concerns ask the people in theatre on the day and they will reassure you.

Please don't cancel your surgery. You're having it for a reason, remember that reason and make that the priority thought.

vodkaredbullgirl · 15/08/2023 22:24

Myeyesinanop · 15/08/2023 22:04

I didn’t expect so many replies. Thanks everyone.
Now I’m freaking out about someone taping my eyes while I’m asleep, I really didn’t know they did that. Keep telling myself I can back out.

Don't cancel

honeyrain · 15/08/2023 22:25

As others have said they're always taped shut to keep lubricated and safe from scrapes/injury (as a conscious person shuts their eye if anything comes at it!) The tapes are removed just before you wake up and you'd never be aware of them otherwise. You'll forget those first few moments of waking up anyways with the drugs on board. The tapes we use look like this...they're easy on the skin and eyelashes!

StillWantingADog · 15/08/2023 22:28

I had a ga recently for the first time ever. I was full of anxiety like you. Everyone was ever so nice and happy to answer questions, including silly ones.

The actual GA was great, and I felt so relaxed coming round.

by far the worst thing for me was having to wait until 6pm nil by mouth. That wasn’t intentional but just what happened on the day. Put snacks in your bag for when you come round because I missed the dinner service when I was in theatre!

Toddlerteaplease · 15/08/2023 22:37

Definitely taped shut. But you can ask the. To apply moisturising drops if you know it's going to be a problem. Mention it to the anaesthetist.

Original poster
Myeyesinanop · 15/08/2023 22:48

Thanks everyone.
@honeyrain thanks for the photo, that’s made me feel a bit better.

Can quite see now my knackered eyes would be in a worse state if they really dried out by staying open without blinking for a couple of hours.

Never been in hospital before except for giving birth a long time ago. If I could have this done with a local anaesthetic I would!

OP posts:
CyberCritical · 15/08/2023 22:57

@Myeyesinanop until I was mid 30s I'd never had any kind of surgery, then I had 3 in 3 years.

1st - Eye surgery, retina detachment, so was done while I was awake, keyhole and laser surgery on my eyeball. Was given light sedation and felt really really really calm, absolutely worry free. I was able to engage in conversation but just had not a care in the world. It was lovely.

2nd - broke my hand and needed it screwed back together, terrified of GA so talking them into doing a nerve block and letting me stay awake. No sedation but couldn't feel anything because my arm was completely dead. That one was quite weird, not bad, just odd. I was completely aware of what was happening, at one point they asked if I wanted to see and moved the draping aside so I could see the bones inside my hand. That wasn't my best move!

3rd - emergency gallbladder removal, local/nerve block wasn't an option so had to have GA and it was great. Out like a light, then I woke up feeling like I had had the most restful sleep ever. The only slightly odd thing is that there was no sense of time passing, when you wake up from a natural sleep you know that hours have passed but when you wake up from GA it feels like only seconds since you closed your eyes.

Bonfire23 · 15/08/2023 23:10

If it helps I hadn't had anaesthetic before and had a total freak out to the point of getting up to walk out

So what happened
They asked if they could give me something to relax me, I said yes. It felt like I was drunk but happy and not sick/dizzy
Then they gave me the anaesthetic, one minute I was awake and the next I was waking up in recovery. Wasn't sick (I asked for as much anti sickness as possible as I'm phobic) and really wanted a drink! Had some food and a cup of tea

Turns out I get wired after anaesthetic and don't want to sleep for 24hrs but that's my only side effect
My last one was 5hrs and I remember saying "it's not working" before I went under Grin

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 16/08/2023 06:05

Myeyesinanop · 15/08/2023 22:48

Thanks everyone.
@honeyrain thanks for the photo, that’s made me feel a bit better.

Can quite see now my knackered eyes would be in a worse state if they really dried out by staying open without blinking for a couple of hours.

Never been in hospital before except for giving birth a long time ago. If I could have this done with a local anaesthetic I would!

Is it something that you could ask to be done under a spinal?

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