“Are you put to sleep during cataract surgery?”

I have not been involved in cataract surgery for many years, but during the time I was, patients did not receive general anesthesia. Typically, we would provide some form of mild sedation to allow the administration of local anesthetic to the eye that is going to be operated on. The local anesthesia was provided by injection, around or below and behind the eye. Rarely, general anesthesia has been required.