What is procedure for pre cataract surgery?

What is procedure for pre cataract surgery? I’ve worn hard contacts for 50 yrs, never been corrected with glasses. Now told that I will need to be contact free for 3 weeks. OD gave me -12.00 soft contacts to try. Wonder if I could just do one eye at a time maybe couple months or so apart. Then I could at least wear 1 contact. Also, besides myopia, have astigmatism, keratoconus, dry eye syndrome. Any thoughts, suggestions or experience with these symptoms. Pretty concerned for my future vision!