Today, cataract surgery is typically performed in an ambulatory surgery center or the outpatient surgery center of a hospital. It does not require a hospital stay, and patients usually go home about an hour after the procedure is completed.

Cataract surgery is performed under local anesthesia (an injection of anesthetic around the eye) or topical anesthesia (numbing drops in the eye). In either case, sedatives are routinely given by vein to keep the patient relaxed during the procedure. Cataract surgery is not painful. Some conditions may require that general anesthesia be administered.