Chapter 3: What to Expect Before, During and After Surgery Page 55
Your doctor will stich the implant to your eye to hold it in
place.
5. Your doctor will then make small hole in the wall of your
eye and will remove all of the gel-like fluid inside your
eye. Your doctor will replace the fluid with a saline
solution.
6. If you have a thin layer of tissue over your retina, your
doctor may remove this by gently peeling it off the retina.
7. Your doctor will then attach the electrode array of the
implant to your retina with a small retinal tack. Your
doctor will test the implant to make sure it is functioning
properly.
8. If the device is functioning properly, your doctor will close
all of the cuts in your eye. Your doctor will then place a
thin layer of tissue (from a human donor) over a small
portion of the implant on the outside of your eye.
9. Your doctor will close the conjunctiva with stitches that
will dissolve over time.
10. Your doctor will patch your eye and you will be escorted
to the recovery room.
11. After you recover from surgery, you will leave the hospital
with instructions to take oral medication and use eye
drops to control swelling, infection, and pain.
12. Your doctor may elect to admit you overnight to the
hospital for observation, or could discharge you the same
day as the surgery.
