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How painful is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is not painful at all. Anesthetic medications are given in the form of eye drops that numb the eye or with a small anesthetic block around the eye area. In some cases, general anesthesia, where you are completely asleep, may be used, but this is usually reserved for instances where you cannot hold still during the procedure. Often your doctor will give you a mild sedative to help you stay relaxed during the cataract surgery.

After surgery, your eyes might feel slightly irritated. This is usually easily managed with over-the-counter medicines for pain.

What is cataract surgery?

Are you awake during cataract surgery?

How long does it take for you to recover from cataract surgery?

What kinds of complications may occur after cataract surgery?

What activities should you avoid after cataract surgery? And for how long?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

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