Preparing for Surgery and Recovery

You should see your primary care provider or cardiologist within 30 days of your surgery date. At this appointment you should obtain:

• A history and physical exam(link is external and opens in a new window) (with statement of medical clearance) 
• Bloodwork is not required

Please make sure your medical clearance documents are faxed to your surgical scheduler at (212) 305-0351.

Please contact your insurance company for primary care physician referrals.

Your eye surgery will be performed at one of the following locations. This will be dependent upon your surgeon.

Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute(link is external and opens in a new window)

• 635 West 165th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10032

NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital(link is external and opens in a new window)

• 3959 Broadway, New York, NY 10032

Milstein Hospital(link is external and opens in a new window)

• 177 Fort Washington Ave, New York, NY 10032

NewYork-Presbyterian David H. Koch Center(link is external and opens in a new window)

• 1283 York Ave New York, NY 10065

For surgeries at Milstein Hospital, the Fort Washington Garage is available for parking.

Location: 115 Fort Washington Avenue, between 164th and 165th Streets
Fort Washington Garage
115 Fort Washington Ave
New York, NY 10032(link is external and opens in a new window)

Hours of Operation: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Valet parking(link is external and opens in a new window) is also available

For surgeries at DHK, Parking is available on-site. If you are parking a car – entrance to the garage is on either 68th or 69th Street between 1st Avenue and York Avenue.

NYP David H. Koch Center
1283 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065(link is external and opens in a new window)
Please enter on York Avenue, between 68th and 
69th Street, for the main entrance

You will receive a phone call from a nurse one business day prior to your scheduled surgery.

Do NOT eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery or on the day of surgery, unless otherwise advised by your nurse.

Exceptions

• A small sip of water with any medications that you take at any time of the day of surgery

Your nurse will review your specific fasting requirements one business day before your scheduled surgery.

Please discuss any change in your medication regimen with your routine prescribing physician (e.g. internist, cardiologist).

Please note that in select cases, your surgeon may ask you to discuss stopping blood thinners with your routine prescribing physician, so as to best weigh safety and risk profiles.

Someone must be available to take you home on the day of surgery. If you do not have someone to take you home, your surgery will be canceled. 

Your escort can accompany you and wait in our waiting room.

If you require assistance finding an escort to take you home, you may hire a healthcare escort via VNS Health(link is external and opens in a new window) at (888) 735-8913.

You will need to see your doctor after surgery. These visits are made in coordination with your surgery date. If you have scheduling restrictions, please discuss with your surgical coordinator.

If eye drops, ointments, or pills are prescribed for post-surgical care, please refrain from using them prior to surgery. 

You will receive specific instructions when you are discharged from surgery and at your subsequent post-operative visits.

Although this may very slightly depending on your surgery, these are the general restrictions to follow after eye surgery for at least one week post-surgery:

• No head under water
• No travelling
• No strenuous exercise
• No eye make up

Please contact our surgical scheduling division at (212) 305-3069.