St Mary's General Hospital

Preparing for eye surgery at Saint Mary’s General Hospital

Below we will address commonly asked questions and useful facts for patients having surgery at Saint Mary’s General Hospital.

Useful facts

Saint Mary’s General Hospital is located at 911 Queen’s Blvd, Kitchener, ON.

Parking can be accessed from Spadina Rd W and costs $12.25/day. Parking can be paid at a kiosk in the main lobby and the emergency department. You can also pay at the exit gate with a credit card.

COVID-protocols at Saint Mary’s General Hospital

• No general visitors are currently allowed in the hospital because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Patients are asked to come alone into the hospital, or if needed for mobility/language assistance you can bring one care partner.
• When you arrive at the hospital, a screener will ask you COVID-19 related questions. If you pass the screening criteria, you will be given a hospital-issued mask and asked to sanitize your hands.

What happens before surgery?

• Your surgeon’s office will book the date and time of your surgery and will provide you with all necessary information, including a booklet and pre-anaesthetic questionnaire to complete.
• Some patients need blood work or EKG testing done in the weeks before eye surgery.  This is not necessary before cataract surgery.
• If you take a blood thinning medication, please ask your surgeon if you need to stop it before surgery.  This is not necessary before cataract surgery.

What happens on the day of surgery?

• Usually, you are asked to arrive at the hospital 2 hours before your scheduled surgery and go to the Cataract Surgery Registration Desk on the 1st floor. 
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol 12 hours before your surgery.
• No solid food after midnight the evening before surgery.
• You can drink up to 500mL (2 cups) of clear fluid (water, cranberry or apple juice) before 5:00am if surgery is in the morning, or before 8:00am if surgery is in the afternoon.
• Do not take diabetic medications on the morning of your surgery.
• Take your non-diabetic morning medication with sips of water at the usual time, unless advised otherwise.
• You should wear a short sleeve shirt that buttons down the front, socks and flat-soled shoes.
• Do not wear any eye makeup.
• Bring the completed booklet and pre-anaesthetic questionnaire.
• Bring a printed list of your medications with doses.
• Bring your health card.
• Bring your reading glasses and hearing aids, if used.
• Bring the name and contact number of your driver/person to take you home.
• If you do not speak English and require an interpreter, please arrange to have one come with you. If you are unable to arrange for an interpreter, please let your surgeon know and the hospital can help arrange one for you.

What happens after the surgery?

• You can eat and drink solid foods after the surgery is completed.  
• Usually, you are able to go home within 1 hour of surgery if you did not require a general anaesthetic.
• You must have someone drive you home after the surgery and they may have to come into the hospital to pick you up.
• Patients undergoing cataract surgery will often have a follow-up visit on the day of surgery at their surgeon’s office to have their eye pressure checked.
• Your surgeon will review with you what to expect after surgery in terms of recovery and activities.  
• After surgery patients are not allowed to drive for 24 hours but can resume normal activities the next day and can drive if their vision meets the driving standards.