Can You Wear Contacts After Cataract Surgery?  

If you have had cataract surgery in Brookhaven, GA, you may be wondering if you’ll be able to return to wearing contact lenses afterward. While cataract surgery can get rid of cataracts, the treatment does not correct vision problems. If you wore corrective eyewear before the cataract surgery, you’ll almost certainly need some sort of corrective eyewear after surgery.

The Healing Period

After cataract surgery, the eye needs to heal. The healing process varies from individual to individual, but it can last as long as six weeks or more. Your eye doctor will let you know when the eye is fully healed, following your aftercare eye exams.

During the healing period, you cannot wear contact lenses. If you need corrective lenses, you’ll have to wear eyeglasses for the duration of the healing process, with no exceptions.

Contacts After Cataract Surgery

After the eye has fully healed, your Brookhaven, GA eye doctor may give you permission to return to wearing contact lenses. While you may approach this gingerly, be aware that wearing contact lenses does not cause or contribute to cataracts whatsoever. If your eye doctor gives you the go-ahead, then you can be confident that it’s okay to wear contacts after cataract surgery.

Sclera Lenses Are an Option

If you have other eye problems or complications from cataract surgery, your eye doctor may recommend that you switch to sclera lenses. These are not contact lenses because they don’t sit directly on top of the eye. Rather, the perimeter of the sclera lens rests on the outer perimeter of the cornea. Your eye doctor will let you know if sclera lenses are recommended.

You’ll start to feel better after just 24 hours following cataract surgery. But you’ll need to wait until the full healing process has passed before even considering wearing contact lenses again. Contact us if you have any more questions.

 

Am I At Risk for Glaucoma?

Are you at risk for glaucoma? You could be! Anyone can get glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk than others. Knowing who is at risk for glaucoma and how to protect yourself from this condition is important. Seeing the eye doctor in Brookhaven GA is most important of all, because your eye doctor can identify when you have glaucoma – even when you aren’t displaying symptoms. Here’s what you need to know.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

Below are some of the risk factors that could put you in a category of people who are more likely to get glaucoma than others:

  • Age. People who are over the age of 60 are more likely to get glaucoma, especially if they also have other risk factors as well.
  • Pressure in the eye. Intraocular eye pressure caused by fluid in the eye is one of the causes of glaucoma. If you have high intraocular eye pressure, then you’re at risk. The extra pressure from fluids in your eye could be doing damage.
  • Genetics. Did you have a grandparent or a parent who has glaucoma? Then you could be at risk yourself.
  • Various medications and medical conditions. Certain medical conditions and medications can put you at risk for glaucoma – ask your eye doctor.
  • Certain eye conditions. If you’re very near sighted, far sighted or if you have had certain types of eye injury or eye surgery, you could be at risk. Your eye doctor can tell you more.

How to Protect Yourself From Glaucoma

To protect yourself from glaucoma, see the eye doctor as often as they recommend. If you do get glaucoma, it’s critical to get glaucoma services in Brookhaven GA from your eye doctor. Call Brookleigh Family Eyecare today to make an appointment.