Phillips Eye Institute

Having surgery

Prior to the day of surgery, please review the pre-surgery fact sheet.

Pre-surgery eating and drinking restrictions

Adults and teens (age 13 years and greater)

• No solid foods by mouth after midnight
• Clear liquids up to 5 hours before surgery*

Children (2 years through 12 years)

• No milk or solid food after midnight
• Clear liquids up to 4 hours before surgery*

Infants (up to 2 years)

• No solid food after midnight
• Clear liquids up to 3 hours before surgery*
• Breast milk up to 4 hours before surgery
• Formula up to 6 hours before surgery

*Clear liquids are water, clear juices such as apple or cranberry juice, soft drinks, popsicle, jello, broth, coffee or tea with no milk.

Having a diagnostic test

On the day of your test, please arrive 30 minutes before your test is scheduled to begin.

• Come to the registration desk, where a staff member will confirm your registration details.
• A staff member will then escort you to the diagnostic and treatment services area. Your family and/or friends may wait for you there.

As you get ready to come, keep these details in mind:

• Food: You can eat or drink as usual on the day of your visit.
• Medication: Take all of your prescribed medications. However, your physician may instruct you to discontinue your eye drops before your tests.
• Transportation: For most procedures you will be able to drive yourself, unless instructed otherwise by your ophthalmologist. If you cannot drive or have no means of transportation, your ophthalmologist’s office can help arrange transportation to and from the Institute.

Having laser treatment

On the day of your visit, please arrive one hour before your procedure is scheduled to begin.

• Come to the registration desk, where a staff member will confirm your registration details.
• A staff member will then escort you to the diagnostic and treatment services area. Your family and/or friends may wait for you there.

As you get ready to come, keep these details in mind:

• Food: You can eat and drink as usual on the day of your visit. 
• Medication: Unless instructed otherwise, take all of your regular prescribed medications, including eye drops and insulin on the day of your visit. Bring a list of all your prescribed medications and your eye drops with you on the day of your procedure.
• Transportation: You may or may not be able to drive yourself home. This depends on the type of procedure you have. Ask your ophthalmologist if you will need to have someone drive you home. If you do not have anyone available, your ophthalmologist's office can help arrange transportation to and from the Institute.