How Can An Eye Surgery Affect Contact Lens Wear?

Having eye surgery may change your ability to wear contact lenses. Standard soft contact lenses are designed for smooth, uniform corneas without structural irregularities. When surgery is performed on an eye, it can alter the shape of the cornea or other structures in ways that make traditional contact lens wear difficult or uncomfortable. In these situations, specialty contact lenses may offer the best path to clear, comfortable vision. For patients in Las Vegas who have had eye surgery and are struggling with their current lenses or glasses, a specialty contact lens evaluation can help determine the right option.

Which Types of Eye Surgery Can Affect Contact Lens Wear?

There are four main categories of eye surgery: surgery on the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye), surgery on the lens inside the eye (such as cataract surgery), surgery on the retina (the back of the eye), and surgery for glaucoma.

Retinal surgery rarely causes changes that affect contact lens wear. The other three categories each carry a small possibility of altering the eye in ways that make soft contact lenses less effective. When eye surgery is recommended, the potential benefits are weighed carefully against any risks, including the possibility that soft contact lens wear may be affected afterward.

How Does Corneal Surgery Affect Lens Fit?

Surgery on the cornea is the type most likely to require specialty contact lenses afterward. Common corneal procedures include radial keratotomy (RK), LASIK, PRK, and corneal transplant surgery.

Of these, corneal transplant surgery is the most invasive and most likely to change the shape of the front of the eye in a way that prevents comfortable soft contact lens wear. RK is rarely performed today, but patients who had the procedure in the past may have developed corneal changes over time that reduce the comfort and predictability of soft lens fitting. LASIK and PRK are generally safe, and when contact lens wear is affected following these procedures, it is usually related to increased dry eye symptoms rather than a significant change in corneal shape.

What Happens After Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed eye surgery. It has a very high success rate and is tremendously beneficial for patients whose vision has been reduced by cataracts. In the rare event that cataract surgery leads to complications that affect the fit or comfort of standard contact lenses, specialty lenses can be used to help restore clear and comfortable vision.

Can Glaucoma Surgery Change Your Contact Lens Options?

There are several types of glaucoma surgery. Many newer procedures are minimally invasive and are generally used for early or mild glaucoma. For more advanced cases, procedures such as trabeculectomy or tube shunt surgery may be necessary. These more involved surgeries can alter the shape of the front of the eye, including creating elevated areas on the surface (called blebs), which may prevent standard contact lenses from sitting properly on the eye.

How Can Specialty Contact Lenses Help After Surgery?

When soft contact lenses are no longer able to provide comfortable wear and clear vision after eye surgery, specialty contact lenses may be an effective alternative. The most common options include:

• Scleral contact lenses, which vault over the entire cornea and rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera). Because they do not touch the cornea directly, scleral lenses can provide excellent vision and comfort even when the corneal surface is highly irregular.
• Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, which create a smooth optical surface over an irregular cornea. These lenses allow oxygen to pass through to the eye and can be custom-designed to fit unusual corneal shapes.
• Hybrid contact lenses, which combine a rigid center for sharp vision with a soft outer ring for comfort. These can be a good option for patients who want the visual clarity of a hard lens with a more familiar soft-lens feel.

Each of these lens types can be ordered with custom measurements and designed to fit corneas that have been altered by surgery, scarring, or other structural changes.

If you have had eye surgery and are experiencing difficulty with your vision or contact lens comfort, schedule a specialty contact lens evaluation at Insight Vision Optometry, Las Vegas. Dr. Stephanie Woo, Dr. Nathan Schramm, and Dr. Thanh Mai have extensive experience fitting specialty lenses for patients with complex post-surgical needs. Call 702-747-4070 or visit www.insightvisionlv.com to book an appointment.