CAN TAKE ASPIRIN (or Plavix) BEFORE AND AFTER MY SURGERY?
Modern cataract surgery rarely causes any bleeding. Topical anesthesia removes the risk of bleeding behind the eye from local anesthetic injections. So, continue your aspirin unless you are specifically instructed to stop. (Patients who will be having glaucoma surgery please do stop aspirin 10 days ahead of time. Glaucoma surgery is often better performed under local anesthetic, and the nature of the incision does result in some bleeding during surgery. Inform your primary care doctor if you do this. Also, if you are on coumadin you will be asked to stop 3-7 days ahead, and this you must discuss with your primary care physician.) Ask your surgeon when you can restart.
