I live alone and will need cataract surgery in the near future and do not have a relative or close friend to take me, stay for the surgery and return me to my home. Additionally, I will need to have someone accompany me the next day for a follow up appointment. Does anyone know where I can find help with this issue? Thank you. May
You make a profile telling them what you need, how many hours or days, and what you're paying.
The ophthalmologist's office said that they would have one of the receptionists come to the hospital and accompany him to a cab. In the end, my daughter was able to assist us, but the office would have made this possible.
1. My ophthalmologist's office had an established procedure. It was a well known practice throughout the state and from what I read, in the US b/c of the progressive attitudes and activities of the doctors.
They established the procedure:
2. The office had a surgery boarder who arranged for pickup, stay during surgery, and returned me back to my home. The gentleman who provided transport for me was the husband of one of the nurses, and was very proficient at knowing how to work with someone who left with 2 open eyes and returned with one bandaged eye.
The office paid the drivers for transport; I paid nothing.
3. My first surgery was the hardest. I had to wear the eye cap all day the second day, so I wasn't comfortable driving. The surgeon's office didn't provide follow-up transportation. So I searched online a few weeks before, then called various ambulance services which also provided nonemergency service to make the arrangements.
If your doctor requires you to visit early the next morning so he/she can check the eye, you may very well require that second transportation service. I did; my eye was still sore and I needed to continue wearing the patch.
This isn't cheap; it was about $140 round trip in 2019.
4. Second surgery was a lot easier; I also had a driver arranged for by the surgery boarder in the ophthalmologist's office.
Second day was also much easier; although I had made arrangements with the same nonemergency service, someone goofed up and the service was late. My eye was fine, so I just drove myself.
5. If your ophthalmologist's office doesn't provide service, I would call ambulance services with nonemergency service. I think it's much safer than calling Uber or Lyft. It is more expensive, but then I value my eyesight and I felt the cost was worth it.
There's also the issue of infection. I assume you'll be wearing an eye patch, but I don't know if that protects you from anything that might be in a private car that transports other people.
6, Some areas also offer point to point service, small bus service, or something similarly described. In my area (heavily populated metro area), the service is nominal; a few years ago it was something like $2.50 per ride - can't beat that!
7. You might also ask about the eye drops you'll use before and after the surgery, and plan life at home accordingly. The drops sting, but are necessary, with one intent being protection against eye infection. They're taken a few days before and weeks afterward; for me the total time of use was 1 month for each eye.
I didn't have vision trouble but the sting and pain is very uncomfortable. I spent a lot of time resting with my eyes closed. So get any housework or financial work done before the surgery.
Hope this helps; please feel free to ask questions if you have any.