Can You Wear Contacts after Cataract Surgery?

Author Tillie Fabbri

Posted Feb 5, 2023

Reads 78

Portrait of Cute Girl

Cataract surgery is a common and safe procedure to correct vision problems caused by an opacity in the eye lens. In most cases, patients can return to wearing contact lenses after cataract surgery. However, patients must understand that while it is possible to wear contacts, there is a risk of developing eye infections and inflammation due to surface aberrations created by the surgical procedure.

When considering wearing contacts after cataract surgery, there are several important factors to consider. First and foremost, you must get clearance from your optometrist or ophthalmologist before attempting to insert contacts in your eyes; this is the only way to ensure that your eyes are ready for contact lenses after recovery from cataracts removal. Generally, doctors require a few months of recovering time before approving contact lens application. Additionally, if you go through traditional cataract extraction surgery (with or without lens implantation) rather than laser assisted surgery, then doctor may not approve contact lens wear until your vision stabilizes six months after post-op follow up visit.

Once considered fit for contact lenses wear by the doctor, you should observe special care instructions when putting it on your eyes following cataracts removal. Most doctors recommend a gentle disinfecting routine which will minimize the risk of infection related issues. Also make sure to examine each pair of contacts closely before use; any signs of tears, dryness or warped shape should instantly be reported so as not to damage the newly recovered eye lens. Finally opt for a more comfortable fitting pair of contacts such as daily disposables and replace them as soon as they reach their expiration date or depending upon their usage condition.

In conclusion, with careful doctor monitoring and proper cleaning precautions you can make wearing contacts safe after cataract surgery. Just remember that post-op care needs time and patience – pay attention to potential eye irritation symptoms closely during this time period for successful recovery from cataract related vision problems with contact lenses usage

Is it safe to wear contact lenses after cataract surgery?

There’s no question that contact lenses are a great solution to improve your vision, but many people wonder if it is safe to wear contacts after cataract surgery. If a patient has had their cataracts removed, it may still be possible for them to wear contact lenses. This can depend on the type of surgery the patient had and any lingering physical affects that still may be present in the eye.

In most instances, it is safe for patients to use contact lenses after surgery if their eye has healed fully and their cornea is in optimal condition. Patients who have recently had laser cataract surgery should also wait about two weeks before wearing contact lenses, so as to reduce any risk of complications that could occur as a result of wearing them too soon after surgery. During an exam and follow-up appointments following the surgery, ophthalmologists will be able to give their patients more exact specifications on when they should resume wearing contacts.

Once the eye has healed fully and enough time has passed since the surgery, a contact lens fitting may take place so that lenses can be prescribed accordingly. Patients should then observe proper care when handling, cleaning and storing their contact lenses in order to ensure they remain safe while wearing them long-term after cataract surgery. Ultimately, speaking with an ophthalmologist is important for gauging whether or not it is safe for a person to wear contact lenses after having cataract surgery.

Can you start wearing contacts again immediately after cataract surgery?

Yes, you can start wearing contacts again immediately after cataract surgery. While the timing may vary from patient to patient, lens wear can usually begin as early as two weeks after the procedure. Depending on your eye health before the surgery and how quickly you healed afterward, your eye doctor may give you specific instructions on when it is safe to resume contact lens use.

For most cataract surgery patients, contact lenses can be used right away without any issues; however, your ophthalmologist will probably still recommend waiting at least a couple of weeks as a safety measure. This is due to the fact that cataract surgery often causes some soreness and light sensitivity in the eye that may make putting in contacts temporarily uncomfortable. Additionally, while cataract surgery tends to improve vision accuracy and reduce glare from bright lights, these effects may not fully develop until a bit of time has passed after the procedure. Consequently, it’s essential that patients wait for their vision to stabilize before trying their contacts again.

It’s important to emphasize that every person’s eyes are different, so what works for one person may not necessarily apply for another. Thus, when considering whether or not you can wear contacts shortly after cataract surgery, always listen carefully to what your eye doctor says and follow their advice regarding frequency of lens wear and follow-up visits with them. Doing so will ensure proper healing and optimal vision post-surgery.

What is the recommended amount of time to wait before wearing contacts after cataract surgery?

Good vision is an important factor in daily life; however, cataract surgery can sometimes interfere with the continued wear of contact lenses. It is important to know exactly when it is safe to start wearing contacts again to ensure that your eyes remain healthy and comfortable. When it comes to cataract surgery and contact lenses, the recommended amount of time to wait before wearing them is anywhere from 1-4 weeks.

At the end of eye surgery your doctor should give you an aftercare regimen for optimum healing, which should include a timeline for when it is safe to start wearing contacts again. Generally speaking, it takes about one week for your eyes to heal from cataract surgery. After one week your doctor will usually conduct a post-surgery checkup and evaluate if you can comfortably and safely start wearing contacts again. Depending on the health of your eyes and the type of contact lens required—it may take up to four weeks before you are cleared by your doctor to wear the lenses again.

It’s important not to rush into putting in contact lenses before you have been given permission by your optometrist or eye care specialist. Trying too soon could cause harm or damage your vision further so it’s always essential you follow their instructions thoroughly. Once you have been given permission to use them— always make sure you properly disinfect and clean your contact lenses before inserting them into your eye as well as cleaning after removing them at night before going to bed.

Does the type of implant used in cataract surgery affect whether or not contacts can be worn?

When a patient opts for cataract surgery, they have multiple options of surgeries to choose from, each tailored to a certain type of implant. Depending on the type of implant used in the operation, it can have an effect on whether or not a patient is able to continue wearing contacts afterwards.

There are three main types of implants used in cataract surgery. Intraocular lenses, also called IOLs, are the most widely used and come either as monofocal or multifocal. Monofocal IOLs give patients good distance vision but require them to wear glasses for up-close tasks such as reading. Multifocal lenses allow for more customizable vision depending on how far away the object is being viewed from. The downside of this type of lens is that it makes wearing contacts after surgery cumbersome due to its inability to fully adjust from distance to near vision correctly.

The second type of implant used for cataract surgeries is known as phakic intraocular lenses (PIOL's), which are placed directly into the eye behind the natural lens and beneath the cornea. This makes PIOL's better suited for those who wish to return to contact lens wear after their operation is complete as they correct a wider range of vision problems than monofocal IOLs can provide.

The third common type of implant used in cataract surgery is known as extended range topography-guided (ERT) custom contact lens implants, which provide premium distance and intermediate sight capabilities and allow patients to usually resume contact lens use directly following their procedure. However, these implants are not compatible with astigmatism correction and may not produce satisfactory results in some cases where severe nearsightedness or farsightedness are present.

In conclusion, depending on the type of implant that is chosen for one's cataract surgery will determine whether or not contacts can be worn afterward – with monofocal IOLs making it difficult if not impossible to fit any corrective contact lens afterwards– while PIOLs are generally much better for those looking for excellent vision correction results that allows them to go back to using contacts with success!

How can I best care for contact lenses after cataract surgery?

When it comes to cataract surgery, maintaining a good contact lens care routine afterwards is incredibly important. After cataract surgery, your eyes will be more sensitive and prone to dryness. Contact lenses – either soft or rigid gas permeable – can irritate your eyes if not properly looked after.

To ensure comfort and protect your eyes, start by following your optometrist's instructions for wearing and cleaning contact lenses after cataract surgery. Make sure you rinse and clean the lenses with a special solution for contact lenses each time you use them. Additionally, make sure to keep other items away from touching the lenses such as makeup, hair products, cream and lotions — they can get onto the contact lenses and cause damage to the surface or reduce their effectiveness in correcting vision. Additionally, it is important to never wear your contacts past their recommended lifespan of 14 days; discarding expired contacts is essential to avoiding infection or irritation.

To stay comfortable wearing contacts after cataract surgery, also be conscious of how much time you spend wearing them throughout the day; if needed take regular breaks every few hours if possible as this will help reduce any discomfort that might arise from prolonged use of contacts following cataract surgery. Lastly replace the contact lens cases about once every 3 months – this helps promote healthy hygiene practice which ultimately reduces irritation and discomfort caused by the extended uses of contact lenses after cataract surgery.

Tillie Fabbri

Tillie Fabbri

Writer at CGAA

View Tillie's Profile

Tillie Fabbri is an accomplished article author who has been writing for the past 10 years. She has a passion for communication and finding stories in unexpected places. Tillie earned her degree in journalism from a top university, and since then, she has gone on to work for various media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, and online publications.

View Tillie's Profile