Medications
Eye Drops (Glaucoma) Before Surgery
If you use eye drops for glaucoma, you may be wondering whether to skip them before your operation. In almost all cases, the answer is to keep going.
Quick answer
Why it matters
Glaucoma is a condition where pressure builds up inside the eye and, over time, can damage the optic nerve and your sight. The damage is usually permanent, so the goal of treatment is to keep eye pressure steady day in, day out. Your drops do exactly that, and they work on a short cycle — most need to go in once or twice every day to keep working. Skip them and the protective effect fades within hours.
Because of that, stopping before surgery offers no benefit and carries a real downside: a rise in eye pressure at exactly the wrong time. That is why the standard advice is to take your drops on your normal schedule, including the morning of your operation. The drops go in the eye, not the stomach, so they are almost always allowed even when you have been told 'nothing to eat or drink' — and a small sip of water to steady yourself does not interfere with an empty stomach for anaesthesia.
The one thing worth flagging is that eye drops do not always stay in the eye. Some, especially beta-blocker drops like timolol, drain down the tear duct and are absorbed into the bloodstream, where they can slightly slow the heart rate or affect breathing in people with asthma or certain heart conditions. This is rarely a problem, but your anaesthetist likes to know so there are no surprises during the operation. Mentioning it is the whole job here — the drops themselves stay.
Do not stop without instruction
What to ask your doctor
- I use glaucoma eye drops — should I take them as normal on the morning of surgery?
- Is a small sip of water with my drops okay, even though I've been told nil by mouth?
- One of my drops is timolol (a beta-blocker) — does that change anything for my anaesthetic?
- Should I bring my eye drops into hospital so I don't miss a dose on the day?
Red flags — call your team
Red flags — call your team
- Sudden eye pain, redness, blurred vision, or seeing haloes around lights before surgery — this can mean eye pressure has risen and needs same-day attention.
- Your drops have run out, or you have missed several doses and cannot get more before your operation — tell your team rather than just going without.
- A new, slow or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or wheezing that started after using a beta-blocker drop like timolol — mention it to your doctor.
References
- General anaesthetic and ophthalmic guidance from national anaesthetic societies and ophthalmology colleges (for example, perioperative medication advice and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists) supports continuing glaucoma drops through the perioperative period and informing the anaesthetic team about absorbed agents such as timolol.
- This page is general information only. Your own surgical, anaesthetic, and eye-care team's instructions always take precedence over anything written here — follow what they tell you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really take my eye drops the morning of surgery?
Yes. Glaucoma drops are one of the medicines you carry on with right up to the day, including the morning of your operation. Put them in at your usual time, with a small sip of water if you need it. A sip does not break the 'nothing by mouth' rule for anaesthesia. The aim is to keep your eye pressure steady, so missing a dose helps no one. If unsure, confirm with your team.
Why does my anaesthetist need to know about eye drops?
Because some drops do not stay in the eye. Beta-blocker drops such as timolol drain through the tear duct and are absorbed into the blood, where they can slightly slow the heart or affect breathing in people with asthma or certain heart conditions. It is rarely a problem, but knowing means your anaesthetist can plan around it and avoid surprises. Listing all your drops, not just tablets, on your pre-op form covers this.
What happens if I forget my drops on the day?
Don't panic over a single missed dose, but don't ignore it either. Tell the nurse or anaesthetist when you arrive — they can usually let you take your drops before you go to theatre. The risk of skipping is a rise in eye pressure, so it is worth bringing your own bottles into hospital clearly labelled, so a dose isn't missed during a long or delayed day.
Are eye drops different from other surgery medicines?
Yes. Many people assume all medicines should be paused before an operation, but that is not true. Some, such as blood thinners and certain diabetes tablets, may need stopping or adjusting, while many regular medicines — including glaucoma drops — are carried on as normal. A few, such as some blood pressure tablets, are occasionally held on the morning of surgery, which is exactly why you should not guess. Continue your drops, and check every other medicine with your team or our medication checker before surgery so each one follows its own correct rule.