We provide specialized care to all adults and children who have eye surgery at OHSU Casey Eye Institute. Our skilled team of professionals work together to provide you with the best care while keeping you comfortable during surgery. We offer:

• A specialized team that includes dedicated nursing staff and an anesthesiologist who have experience with the most common to the most complex eye diseases.
• Compassionate care that treats you or your child like an individual.
• A handmade quilt for each child who has surgery at Casey, donated by the Oregon State Elks Association.
• A state-of-the-art surgical facility with the latest technology available to provide the best eye care in the region.

Every year over 5,000 surgeries are performed in OHSU Casey Eye Institute's four operating rooms. Surgeries are scheduled Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5 pm. We are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide scheduled and emergency care. Approximately 99% of our patients go home on the day of their surgery, while 1% are admitted to OHSU Hospital.

What to expect on the day of surgery

Your surgeon’s office will send instructions asking you to arrive at the 6^th floor of OHSU Casey Eye Institute’s Marquam Hill location about one hour before the scheduled start of your surgery. The registered nurse in the preoperative area (preop) will assist you in getting ready, which includes changing into a hospital gown, getting vital signs, reviewing medical history, and starting an IV. The IV helps the anesthesia doctor give you medication and keep you comfortable during surgery. 

In addition to your preop nurse, you will also meet your surgery team in the operating room, which will include the surgeon, their assistants, the anesthesia doctor, the operating room nurse and a scrub technician or scrub nurse who assist with sterile instruments and equipment. You may be slightly sedated or asleep during surgery.

After surgery, the surgical team will bring you to the postoperative area (postop), where the postop registered nurse will assist with your recovery. The nurse will make sure you have everything you need and help you get ready to go home. Following surgery, you will receive detailed instructions about how to take care of yourself, any activities restrictions and follow up care. We are committed to treating each patient as a unique individual. 

OHSU Casey Eye Institute Perioperative Services strives to make every child feel like the most important child in the world. Providing a calm and welcoming environment for our youngest patients is a top priority. We recognize that family-focused care is very important, and we wish to create a positive experience for the entire family.

Each child having surgery at Casey Eye Institute receives a “Casey the Elk” stuffed animal and a handmade blanket, generously donated by the Oregon State Elks Association. 

Your child will be prepared for surgery in the preoperative (preop) area. The anesthesiologist and preop nurse will discuss options and medications with you before surgery. Children may receive a medication before surgery that will help them feel more comfortable and make them sleepy before going to the operating room. After surgery, the postoperative nurse who is only assigned to your child will closely monitor your child. This nurse will call for you when your child wakes up from sedation.

Why can't I eat or drink before surgery?

The food and drink restrictions are very important for your safety. Eating or drinking anything within the time periods outlined below can put you at great risk during your surgery.

Please take these instructions seriously. Not following these rules may result in delay and/or cancellation of your surgery.

Adults: Ages 18 years-old and above

STOP After midnight or 8 hours before arrival time

• No food or drink (including coffee, water, gum, candy, mints. suckers or lifesavers)

Morning Medications

• Take blood pressure and heart medications with a sip of water or as directed.
• Do not take diabetic pills
• Do not take diuretic (water) pills
• Do not take insulin unless you have received instructions as to how much less you should take on the morning of surgery.
• If you have sleep apnea, please bring your CPAP machine and mask

Infants and children under 18 years old

STOP 8 hours before arrival time

Regular Diet, all solid foods

STOP 6 hours before arrival time

• Formula
• Milk 
• Bread or toast plain or with jam (without butter or other spreads)
• Cereal
• Saltine or rice crackers
• Applesauce
• Tube feeds

STOP 4 hours before arrival time

• Breast Milk only

STOP 2 hours before arrival time

Clear liquids only

• Water
• Pedialyte
• Apple juice

*Make sure to keep all foods out of reach of children once they are no longer able to eat. It's important to check the car and car seats before child enters.