The BASC building is at 11 Washington Place in Bedford. The BASC Eye Institute entrance is at the far end of the building with a dedicated parking area for eye surgery patients. As you enter the building, take the elevator on your right up to the second floor.

A BASC Eye Institute nurse will call you approximately 3 days before your surgery with your arrival time and other information necessary for the day of the surgery.

Your surgeon will prescribe eye drops for you to use before and after the surgery. It is up to you to be sure to have your eye drop medications ready to use as prescribed.

Yes. The One Medical Passport System used by BASC is secure and captures your comprehensive clinical data and other relevant information to be used for this or other procedures at BASC. It is a one-time registration. The information feeds into the chart forms that will be used in your records.
Patients should attempt to complete online registration themselves. If you are having difficulty or do not have access to a computer, please call for assistance. Registration takes about 15-30 minutes to complete.

You will wear your own clothes in the operating room, so wear loose, comfortable clothes – separate top and bottom (not one-piece garments). Long sleeves are recommended as it is cold in the operating suite.

The surgery is typically brief. Time is needed before the surgery to prepare your eye with eyedrops and to allow your relaxing medication to take effect. Typically, patients are at the facility for under two hours. Understand that every patient receives the attention their procedure requires and surgeries vary. There may be a delay or you may be asked to come earlier to the BASC Eye Institute.

Cataract surgery is painless during and after the procedure. You may experience some temporary irritation and scratchiness after surgery for a day or so.

Ordinarily, eye surgery patients do well with oral sedative medication given upon your arrival to the surgical center. Some patients may require IV conscious sedation. If that is the case for you, your doctor will make those arrangements with BASC.

Only patients are allowed into the building at this time. We ask drivers to wait in the vehicles or somewhere nearby. Your driver must be within a 15-20 minute distance in order to be here for the discharge instruction period.

Your surgeon will evaluate your healing and advise you about returning to your usual activities after surgery.

No, not in advance of the surgery. The contact will need to be out before preparations begin when you arrive at the surgery center.

Please wear your hearing aids to the Surgical Center. Just before surgery, one hearing aid (on the side of the surgery) will be removed for its protection from the rinse water used in surgery. Your hearing aid will be kept safe and returned to you before you leave the BASC.

No.

Drivers are expected to be available when you are ready for discharge. They should be in the local area within a 15-20 minute drive to BASC.

It is a public safety concern to drive while under the influence of medication. Patients are typically given oral medication [Valium (Diazepam) +/or Ativan (Lorazepam)] before surgery to relax for the surgery. Some patients receive IV sedation. Under these conditions, you may be at legal risk for personal injury or risking others on the road.

Taxi is permitted as a mode of transportation ONLY if you are accompanied by another adult. The Taxi driver is not considered your personal responsible adult on the day of surgery.

If you have a Power of Attorney document for healthcare, activated or not, BASC would appreciate a copy for your records here. If you do not have a DPOAH document, it is not necessary to obtain one for the surgery. However, BASC does offer the forms on its website if you or your family are interested for your future needs.

Only patients are admitted to the clinical area. We ask that there are no additional people in the building but it is at the discretion of the eye center to make certain accommodations due to individual patient needs.

Specially trained dogs are permitted under controlled circumstances to assist the patient with specific tasks.