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Are You Awake During Cataract Surgery? What You Actually See And Feel

Dr. Elhalis | Eye Surgeon

55,413 views

Lots of cataract surgery videos ahead, subscribe to the channel: @drelhalis

What happens during cataract surgery, from the patient's side. You are awake for it, and you will not be watching. In this video I go through what you will actually feel, what your eye will show you, and why you cannot see the surgery itself.

📞 Questions about your eyes or ready to be seen? Dr. Elhalis is here to help.
Book an appointment or call us: https://www.OcalaEye.com

🔔 New here? Subscribe for straight answers about cataracts, lens options, and eye surgery, from a surgeon who takes the time to explain them.

👨‍⚕️ ABOUT DR. ELHALIS
Dr. Hussain Elhalis is a board-certified cataract and refractive surgeon at Ocala Eye in Ocala, Florida, with fellowship training in cornea and refractive surgery and more than 10,000 cataract surgeries performed. This channel is here to help you understand your eyes and make a confident decision, in plain English, long before you ever sit in the chair.

⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 Will you see them working on your eye?
0:50 What awake actually means
2:00 The eyelid support and your one job
2:50 What you will feel
4:00 If you get uncomfortable, say stop
4:30 What you actually see
5:00 Two soft spots of light
5:20 The colors patients describe
5:55 Why the light changes
6:20 Movement and shadows
6:40 When the light goes dark
7:05 Why you cannot see any detail
8:00 What being told ahead of time does

👁️ IN THIS VIDEO

Being awake for cataract surgery is the part most people quietly dread, and almost nobody explains it beforehand. In this video I go through what happens during cataract surgery from where you are lying, using both my own experience and a study of 102 patients who were asked to describe what they saw. You will learn what the numbing drops do and do not cover, why pressure is the sensation people remember rather than pain, what the microscope light and the colors actually look like, and the reason detail never comes through. Knowing what is coming is the single thing that has helped my patients most with their fear.

📚 STUDIES REFERENCED IN THIS VIDEO

The 102 patient study:
Newman DK. Visual experience during phacoemulsification cataract
surgery under topical anaesthesia. British Journal of Ophthalmology.
2000;84(1):13-15. doi:10.1136/bjo.84.1.13
Free full text: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10611...

The counseling trial (851 patients):
Haripriya A, Tan CSH, Venkatesh R, Aravind S, Dev A, Au Eong KG.
Effect of preoperative counseling on fear from visual sensations
during phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia. Journal of
Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 2011;37(5):814-818.
doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2010.11.041
Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21511...

🔗 OFFICIAL LINKS
📞 Appointments & practice info: https://www.OcalaEye.com
📖 Articles & guides: https://www.ElhalisMD.com

#cataractsurgery #cataractoperation #eyesurgery

⚠️ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This video is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for a professional diagnosis, examination, or treatment from a qualified eye doctor. Watching this video does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Elhalis or Ocala Eye. Every eye is different, and results from any procedure vary from person to person. Always speak with a qualified ophthalmologist or your own physician before making decisions about your eye health. If you have sudden vision changes, eye pain, or an eye injury, seek medical care right away or call 911.

20 Comments

@DrElhalis Creator 1 month ago (edited) Pinned

Thanks for watching. I hope this will make your cataract surgery feel a little less unknown. I will be reading the comments and reply when I can. If you have already had one eye done, I would really like to hear what you saw. Every description is different, and other people reading through them get more out of your answer than you might expect.

Most of what I make comes from questions patients ask me in the office. So if there is something you want explained, tell me below and I will put it on the list.

If you want to help the channel, the like button and subscribing do more than anything else. It gets these in front of people who are sitting at home worrying about the same thing you were.

My goal here is simple. Nobody should be hearing this for the first time while they are lying on the table.

All the best,
Dr. Elhalis

@relaxingwindow6137 1 month ago

This is one of the best cataract surgery videos I've seen and should be helpful to many.

@tambo333 3 weeks ago

Had both eyes done two weeks apart in July. I don’t really remember much of anything. Maybe a little bright light. Didn’t see any colors that everyone says they see. The whole thing was so quick and pretty painless. Just felt a little stinging on the way home. The drops they give you really help. I was really scared, but there really wasn’t anything to be afraid of. Glad I had it done!

@mslisa9699 6 days ago

My cataract surgery was done this year (2026) on both eyes, five months apart, in the same surgery center, by the same surgeon. Prior to being wheeled into the surgery room, I was given different kinds eyedrops in the to-be-operated eye, and an IV in my hand. While inside the surgery room, I didn't hear anyone's voice or command. I also don't recall seeing any light, the surgeon/nurse, or any object inside the surgery room. I believe the medicine I received in the IV shut off my memory. When I woke up, the surgery was finished. I was given a pill to take before leaving the surgery center. I felt no pain in the operated eyes after the surgery. I chose monofocal lens for both eyes.

@hb2088 3 weeks ago

Had my left eye restored with a monofocal basic Bausch & Lomb IOL on Thursday September 3rd by the greatest cataract surgeon in the Universe; she was absolutely awesome. So far so good. What I did notice was the kaleidescope light show, and interestingly enough - the actual lens being placed and manipulated slightly. No pain, but mild to very light pressure. Right now I'm 20 Happy. A wonderful eye "" Opening" experience. On a side note: I didn't receive IV anesthesia/sedation. I was administered a small foul tasting lozenge called a MELT under my tongue which was quite effective and lasted approximately 40 minutes. Can't wait to restore my right eye, and I too was originally petrified.

@loiscrowley3291 3 weeks ago

I had both cataracts operated on about 8 years ago. There was no pain but I found the extremely bright light to be hard to bear. It never faded through the whole procedure and I did not see any colors. That doesn’t sound like most people’s experience, so maybe I’m just weird.

@punchion 2 days ago

Had cataract surgery about a year ago. No relaxation meds just numbing drops. No pain whatsoever. Glad I had it done.

@robbinbray4461 5 days ago

Wow, after watching your video on what to expect during a cataract surgery. I feel so much better now. I was really scared 😨. But now a feel alot better. Now, I'm ready to schedule my eye cataract surgery. Because, I have been all over the place during a regular eye exam. It's no way I could sit still while being awake with someone touching my eyes. All that worries for nothing. Thank god 🙏 for you and you tube.

@bonnieolson80 4 days ago (edited)

I had cataract surg and lens implant on both eyes, one eye at a time, two weeks apart. Before the surgery, they flooded my eyes with numbing drops. My advice is to not blot your eyes,and make sure the numbing drops get down inside your eye sockets so that the insides of your lids get really numb too. When i had my second eye done, I could feel the retractor on my lids and more pressure during the procedure. Both procedures were painless, but the first one was the most comfortable. IMHO it was because the first nurse did a better job of flooding my eyeball with the numbing drops. I googled this, and it agreed with me, that it does make a difference.❤i was pretty nervous about having my eyes operated on, because i am unable to make myself wear contacts and was worried about what i would see during surgery. I did only see the lights and could feel a little pressure. I did not see this video beforehand, ….it wouldve been very helpful and IMHO its very accurate.

@annmcg9781 5 days ago

I’m having my first cataract surgery in a couple of months. So glad I watched this video. Very informative, very helpful. Thank you.

@schellywagoner8264 2 weeks ago

This has been so helpful. I'm coming closer to deciding to have the surgery here in Missouri.

@intuitivewisdomtoday 17 minutes ago

I live close to Ocala. My vision is 20/925. I was recently told I have developing cataracts. I am having trouble seeing signs clearly. I am allergic to Prednizone, Epinephrine and sulfa drugs. I think this would put me in a higher risk category, get the new glasses this week. That current perscription is up .75. If possible, I would like to avoid surgery. It seems the vision has changed a lot in the last 4 months. I have Sjogrens and Raynauds and a brain injury in childhood so not your average run of the mill case. So, in six months go back but how do you know when the vision is changing too fast?

@flman785 10 days ago

I had both eyes done two and a half years ago. My surgeon used the laser to break up the cataract and I saw all the cool lights. After that, they wheeled me into the surgical suite where the new multifocal lens was installed. I felt significant pressure during the first procedure and advised my surgeon. She asked the anesthesia technician to increase the meds through the IV and I lost consciousness briefly. Within a few minutes it was over. The second was painless because the anesthesia tech gave me more meds. I had some post-operative itching and scratchiness that lasted for a few hours but then went away. Overall, I am happy with my new 20/20 vision, being able to read and drive without glasses for the first time in over thirty years!

@marthashinley5783 1 month ago

I have cataract surgery tomorrow. You've made me feel much calmer about it. Thank you. I know I have a good surgeon but he's not really a people person.

@josienewman2618 5 days ago

Bless you for your kindness Dear Doctor!❤️

@kwilliams2239 1 month ago

Thank you. I'm having my first eye done in about ten days. I've had a lot of outpatient surgery, but I'm really sensitive about my eyes. I could never have contacts. Putting eye drops (I have controlled glaucoma, also) is even a problem for me. My surgeon said that he used versed and it was more or less like a colonoscopy. Your description actually makes more sense and I'm glad I ran across your video today. I'd probably be sorta freaked out if he surprised me.

I am an engineer, so as you said, I would like to hear what's going on, if I wasn't so sensitive about things even near my eyes.

@lisalang7096 3 weeks ago

I was so nervous for my recent cataract surgery that my blood pressure went up 30 points. But the worry was all for nothing. Upon arriving to the facility, you will receive a variety of drops, measurements taken & an IV inserted for later light sedation of Versed. I had my cloudy lens broken up by laser, at which time I saw a kaleidoscope of colors that shifted around. Then I walked to the OR where my new lens was put in. This also took mere minutes & I saw bright light but had no focus. Both procedures were totally painless. I now have 20/20 vision in the eye that was done & everything appears much brighter & clearer!

@robbinbray4461 5 days ago (edited)

Dr Elhalis your video. It was so informative 👏 that I had to watch it again. Thank you for answering all my questions about what to expect during cataract eye surgery. " You are the best."

@SusanK-k4o 3 weeks ago

Very thankful to you for posting this video. ❤

@creatingwithgranny3376 10 days ago

I saw what I thought was three distinct lights and some colour. The water time’s was comforting…felt great! The pressure was very little and I enjoyed hearing my doctor exclaim…a big black rock of a cataract so light-hearted. Heard her say vitreous water to assistant . Loved that I walked in and they got me up immediately and walked out immediately. They said open eye immediately and light in room was tolerated by my now cataract free eye. It felt good to see light immediately. I had oral relaxant they gave me choice to take or not. The eye prep was so fast and pain free. It amazed me that my eye was still. Pain free.