Your cataract surgery is scheduled at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia. There are several things your doctor wants you to know and do before your surgery.
Read the instructions and information below. If you do not follow these instructions, your procedure may need to be rescheduled or canceled.
For questions related to your surgery, please call 215-662-8100 or reach out to your surgeon through your MyChart by MyPennMedicine account.
Before your procedure
A history and physical must be completed with your primary care physician within the 30 days before your surgery. If your medical exam is not completed, we will not be able to perform your surgery.
If these are not completed, we will not be able to perform your surgery.
Your cataract surgery will be performed at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia. Get directions and view parking locations.
Make sure that you know the timeline for stopping certain medications before your surgery — including diabetes medicines, blood thinners, seizure, or pain medications, GLP-1 medications or SGLT2 inhibitors.
If you are unsure about which medications need to be stopped before surgery, please check with your prescribing doctor. If your medications are not stopped correctly before your surgery date, we may have to reschedule or cancel your surgery.
Note: SGLT2 inhibitors (like Jardiance, Invokana, Farxiga, and Steglatro) must be stopped at least 3 days before surgery (4 days for Steglatro). GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic, Trulicty, and Mounjaro) must be stopped 7 days before surgery (whether weekly or daily dosed).
A partial list of medications and medication stopping times is provided below.
SGLT2i should be stopped for at least 3 days (at least 4 days for ertugliflozin) before the procedure date.
- Canagliflozin (Invokana®)
- Canagliflozin/metformin (Invokamet®)
- Canagliflozin/metformin XR (Invokamet® XR)
- Dapagliflozin (Farxiga®)
- Dapagliflozin/metformin XR (Xigduo®)
- Dapagliflozin/metformin XR (Xigduo® XR) Revised 7/5/22
- Dapagliflozin/saxaglipitin (Qtern®)
- Dapagliflozin/saxaglipitin/metformin (Qternmet® XR)
- Empagliflozin (Jardiance®)
- Empagliflozin/metformin (Synjardy®)
- Empagliflozin/metformin XR (Synjardy® XR)
- Empagliflozin/linagliptin (Glyxambi®)
- Empagliflozin/linagliptin/metformin XR (Trijardy® XR)
- Ertugliflozin (Steglatro™)
- Ertugliflozin/metformin (Segluromet™)
- Ertugliflozin/sitagliptin (Steglujan™)
All GLP-1 medications should be stopped 7 days before the procedure date:
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- Exenatide XR (Bydureon bcise)
- Exenatide (Byetta)
- Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy)
- Liraglutide (Victoza/Saxenda)
- Lixisenatide (Adlyxin)
- Semaglutide (Rybelsus)
Stop eating by midnight the day before your surgery. This includes candy, mints, and gum.
You are encouraged to drink clear liquids up to 1 hour before your scheduled arrival. For example, if you are told to arrive at 8 a.m., you may drink clear liquids up to 7 a.m.
Clear liquids:
- Water – Tap, sparkling, or seltzer
- Juice – No red juice or juice that has pulp. (E.g. Apple, white grape, white cranberry)
- Soda – Diet or regular, lemon-lime, ginger ale
- Gatorade – Only yellow, green, or clear
- Jello, popsicles, and water ice – Only yellow or green flavors
- Clear broth or bouillon
- Plain tea or coffee (with no milk or cream)
Between 1 and 2 p.m. on the day before your surgery, you will get an automated phone message with your assigned arrival time for surgery. If your surgery is scheduled on a Monday, you will be called on the Friday before your procedure. If you do not receive a message by 3 p.m., please call 215-662-5010.
You will be instructed to arrive 90 minutes to 2 hours before your scheduled start time to prepare for your procedure. Because unforeseen events can delay other surgeries scheduled ahead of you, your scheduled surgery time is an estimate. It is our goal to keep you updated about delays.
After your surgery, you may not leave the building alone. You must arrange for a support person 18 or older to take you home after your surgery.
It takes time for the anesthesia to wear off, so your support person will escort you home. They may do so in their car, on public transportation, or in a ride-share service (like Uber, Lyft, or a taxi), but you may not go home alone.
Note: A bus, cab, or paratransit driver is not considered your support person.
Day of surgery
Stop eating by midnight the day before your surgery. This includes candy, mints, and gum.
You are encouraged to drink clear liquids up to 1 hour before your scheduled arrival. For example, if you are told to arrive at 8 a.m., you may drink clear liquids up to 7 a.m.
Clear liquids:
- Water – Tap, sparkling, or seltzer
- Juice – No red juice or juice that has pulp. (E.g. Apple, white grape, white cranberry)
- Soda – Diet or regular, lemon-lime, ginger ale
- Gatorade – Only yellow, green, or clear)
- Jello, popsicles, and water ice – Only yellow or green flavors
- Clear broth or bouillon
- Tea/coffee (with no milk or cream)
Arrive at the hospital at the time that was assigned to you the day before your surgery. If you have not received a message, please call 215-662-5010.
Your assigned arrival time is set to be between 90 minutes and 2 hours before your scheduled surgery time. This gives us time to ensure that you are prepared for your procedure. Because unforeseen events can delay other surgeries scheduled ahead of you, your scheduled surgery time is only an estimate. It is our goal to keep you updated about delays.
Please bring the following with you to the hospital:
- Medication list
- Copy of living will or advance directives
- Insurance cards
- Photo ID
- Co-pays and deductibles*
*You may contact Patient Financial Services regarding financial matters at 215-662-8970.
Please do NOT bring valuables to the hospital, including large sums of cash, credit cards, or jewelry. Penn Presbyterian is not responsible for the loss or damage to any personal property.
A nurse will review your surgeon’s instruction on how to care for yourself after surgery. It is recommended that you have someone with you to listen to these instructions.
You will also be given printed discharge instructions to take home. It is important to keep and review these the next morning after you have recovered from the effects of anesthesia.
Your cataract surgery is scheduled at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia. Get directions and view parking locations.
Parking is available in the multi-level garage located at 3910 Filbert Street, Philadelphia PA 19104. View parking map.
Please enter the CUPP building to the main lobby. Walk to the Information Desk. You will be directed to the 2nd floor of the Pavilion for Advanced Care (PAC), where you will check in. Your support person is welcome to stay with you during this time.
After your surgery
If you are staying over at the hospital, your family or support person can bring your overnight bag up to your hospital room after your procedure.
We will follow up with you the next day to see how you are feeling and to ask about your experience at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
After your surgery, you may not leave the building alone. You must arrange for an adult support person to take you home after your surgery.
It takes time for the anesthesia to wear off, so your support person will escort you home. They may do so in their car, on public transportation (like SEPTA), or in a ride-share service (like Uber, Lyft, or a taxi), but you may not go home alone.
Note: A bus, cab, or paratransit driver is not considered your support person.
In the days and weeks after your surgery, you will have post-operative appointments with your doctor. Usually, the first post-op appointment is the day after surgery. These appointments are typically set up when your surgery is scheduled. Please make sure to arrange transportation accordingly.
You can view details for these appointments by logging in your MyChart by MyPennMedicine account.