If you rely on contact lenses every day, preparing for cataract surgery can raise a lot of questions. Do you need to stop wearing them before the procedure? And once it’s over, can you wear contacts after cataract surgery if you still need vision correction?
The truth is, every patient’s situation is different, and understanding what to expect with contacts before and after surgery is an important part of feeling confident about your treatment. At Florida Eye Specialists, we’re here to guide you through the process and explain how today’s advanced cataract surgery options may even help you leave contacts behind for good.
Test Drive Your Vision and Say Goodbye to Contact Lenses
Did you know cataract surgery can help you say goodbye to glasses and contact lenses for good? The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is a new cataract lens implant that can be adjusted after cataract surgery. This technology allows patients to test drive their vision and customize their prescription to their lifestyle, just like glasses or contacts. Read about a patient’s firsthand experience with the procedure here.
After cataract surgery with the LAL, patients meet with their eye doctor to test their vision. They then preview and compare prescription changes to choose the option that looks best to them, until they see exactly how they want to.
What Are Cataracts?
A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens of your eye, resulting from the breakdown and clumping of proteins. The cloudiness makes it harder for light to get through clearly to your retina, leading to blurry or hazy vision. As the condition worsens, other symptoms of cataracts include double vision, light sensitivity, and difficulty seeing at night.
Cataracts typically develop slowly with age. However, the condition can also be caused by genetics, eye injury, certain medications, or other underlying health conditions. While cataracts can impact individuals of all age groups, they typically go unnoticed until individuals reach their 60s or 70s.
When to Have Cataract Surgery
When your cataracts start making everyday tasks like reading, cooking, driving, or enjoying your hobbies difficult, your eye doctor may suggest cataract surgery. The exciting news is that you have options with your surgery and advanced lens options that help greatly reduce or even eliminate your need for glasses or contacts.
Rest assured, cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures in the country, and nearly 30 million cataract surgeries are performed every year around the world. With advances in technology, cataract surgery today is safer and provides better outcomes than ever.
Can You Wear Contacts Before Cataract Surgery?
To prepare for cataract surgery, you’ll need to stop wearing your contact lenses for a while. That’s because contact lenses can affect important measurements of your eyes.
Your eye surgeon will give personalized instructions on when to stop wearing your contacts. Typically, you must remove your soft contact lenses at least 24 hours before the operation. If you wear rigid contact lenses, stop wearing them for at least 48 hours.
Premier Cataract Lens Options
During cataract surgery, your eye’s cloudy natural lens is removed. Your surgeon will replace it with a clear artificial lens known as an intraocular lens (IOL). Today’s lenses offer crisper, higher-quality vision, and more function than ever — and there are more options than you think.
Whether you have astigmatism, need better nighttime or daytime vision, have had prior refractive surgery, or wish to see clearly without the use of glasses or contact lenses, we can customize your lens to your individual needs.
Can You Wear Contacts After Cataract Surgery?
Depending on the type of cataract surgery you choose, you may not need to wear contact lenses anymore. Today’s advanced technology can allow you to correct your vision with incredible precision.
If you still need vision correction after surgery, yes, you can wear contact lenses. You’ll need to wait for your eyes to heal, which usually takes around six weeks. Then, you’ll review your prescription with your eye doctor to ensure the best fit.
Best Cataract Surgeons In Jacksonville, FL
You don’t have to suffer from blurred, dull vision or give up the activities you love. At Florida Eye Specialists, our cataract surgeons use cutting-edge technology and personalized lens options so you can see better than ever before.
For the best eye doctor near you in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and beyond, schedule your appointment today.