Most cataract surgery is done while you are awake with local anesthesia, usually numbing eye drops, and sometimes a numbing injection around the eye. Some people also get medicine to help them relax. General anesthesia, which makes you fully unconscious, is rarely needed for cataract surgery. You should not feel pain during surgery because the eye is numb.

Local anesthesia means you are awake but do not feel pain. For cataract surgery, the usual goal is to keep you comfortable and still. In some cases, the team may use sedation, which is medicine that makes you sleepy and relaxed.