Preparing for eye cancer surgery
The basic procedure before your operation is the same whether you are having:
- just the tumour removed
- part of the eye removed, for example an iridectomy
- the whole eye removed
Tests to check you are fit for surgery
You have tests before your operation to check:
- your fitness for an anaesthetic, if you need one
- that you’ll make a good recovery from surgery
You might have some or all of the following tests:
- blood tests to check your general health and how well your kidneys are working
- a swab test to rule out some infections
- an
ECG 
to check that your heart is healthy - breathing tests (called lung function tests)
- an
echocardiogram - a chest x-ray to check that your lungs are healthy
- a cardio pulmonary exercise test (which checks your heart and lung function when you're resting and exercising)
Your eye specialist may do another eye examination using an ophthalmoscope.
Pre assessment clinic
Before your surgery you have an appointment at the hospital pre assessment clinic.
Your pre assessment appointment prepares you for your operation.
In some hospitals, you may only meet the pre-assessment nurses. If you have specific questions to ask the treatment team, do let them know before your appointment so that someone is available to answer them.
It sometimes helps to write down all your questions beforehand to take with you. The more you know about what is going to happen, the less frightening it will seem. You can ask more questions when you go into hospital so don’t worry if you forget to ask some.
At the hospital you might meet:
The eye surgeon
A member of the surgical team will tell you about:
- the operation you are going to have
- the benefits of having surgery
- the possible risks
- what to expect afterwards
The anaesthetist
The anaesthetist gives you the anaesthetic and looks after you during the operation. They make sure you’re fit enough for the surgery.
The nurse
The nurse checks your:
- general health
- weight
- blood pressure
- pulse
- temperature
The clinical nurse specialist
The nurse specialist checks what help and support you have to see what you will need when you go home. They are your point of contact and care for you throughout your treatment.
Learning breathing and leg exercises
Breathing exercises help to stop you from getting a chest infection after surgery. If you smoke, it helps if you can stop at least a few weeks before your operation.
Leg exercises help to stop blood clots forming in your legs. You might also have medicines to stop the blood from clotting. You have them as small injections under the skin.
You start the injections after your operation. You might also wear compression stockings and pumps on your calves or feet to help the circulation.
Your nurse and physiotherapist will get you up out of bed quite quickly after your surgery. This is to help prevent chest infections and blood clots forming.
This 3-minute video shows you how to do the breathing and leg exercises.
Breathing and circulation exercises after surgery
These exercises help prevent you developing a chest infection or blood clots in your legs after surgery. These problems are more likely when you are not moving around as you would normally.
You can do these breathing exercises while sitting up in a chair or in a bed or whilst lying down.
Relax your shoulders and upper chest.
Take a slow, deep, comfortable breath in and hold for a couple of seconds, then slowly breathe out.
Repeat this 3 times.
You can start these breathing exercises as soon as you come round from your anaesthetic.
You should try to do them every hour when awake until you are fully mobile.
If you need to cough, support your wound with your arms, a pillow or a rolled up towel.
If you are struggling to clear any phlegm, try a huff. This is where you breathe out in a short, sharp manner as if you were trying to steam up a mirror.
You should move about as soon as possible after your operation. But while you are not as mobile, try to keep your legs moving to encourage better circulation.
You can do these exercises in a bed or in a chair.
One foot at a time point your toes away from you then pull your toes towards your chin.
Try to do 10 of these on both feet at least 2-3 times an hour.
The next exercise is circling your ankles. One at time circle your ankles, clockwise and then anticlockwise. Repeat this 10 times with each ankle 2-3 times an hour.
The evening before
You might go into hospital the evening before or the morning of your surgery.
Your nurse might give you a carbohydrate-rich drink to have the evening before the operation. You might also have it the following morning. The drink gives you energy and can speed up your recovery.
When you're in hospital your nurse will check your:
- blood pressure
- pulse
- temperature
- breathing rate
You might have fluids through a drip (intravenous infusion) into your arm. This is usually if you have been finding it difficult to drink.
Your feelings about surgery
It’s natural to feel frightened about having eye surgery. You will be asleep during your operation and will not be aware of anything.
You may worry about what your eyesight will be like after the operation. Your surgeon will discuss all these things with you before you have your operation.
Ask if you want more time with your surgeon or specialist nurse to discuss things. They will be happy to answer your questions. It is important that you feel as confident as possible about your operation.
Finding out what happens during the surgery can help.
