Do You Need Contacts After Cataract Surgery?
Are you thinking about getting cataract surgery? Are you worried about needing contacts or glasses after the procedure?
Any kind of surgery can be scary, especially if it’s on your eyes. How do you make sure you’re getting the results you want? Keep reading to learn more about if you’ll need contacts after having cataract surgery!
What are cataracts?
Cataracts develop as a result of the natural lens becoming cloudy over time. This makes it harder to see and can lead to visual impairment. This may lead to things like seeing halos around lights, blurry vision, and difficulty driving at night.
Pre-surgery
Before your cataract surgery, your doctor will do an ultrasound of your eyes to figure out their size and shape. This happens about a week before surgery.
After this, your eye doctor will discuss your intraocular lens options. Intraocular lenses or IOLs are what replaces the natural lens during cataract surgery.
They will help you select an IOL with your post-surgery desired vision in mind. When your eye’s natural lens is removed, your doctor will insert an artificial IOL to replace it.
The lens is crucial to see. Without it, you cannot see clearly and it helps light focus in the back of the eye.
There are many different lenses that you can pick from. They have different features, vision goals, and materials. You need to select the IOL that will let you see and live the life you want.
When selecting an IOL, there are many things to consider. You need to decide if you want a standard or premium IOL.
Standard IOLs only let you see at one distance, so you’ll need glasses or contacts after cataract surgery. Premium IOLs let you see at different distances. They are also made from different materials and can correct your vision, so you will not need contacts or glasses after cataract surgery.
Even if you decide to get a premium IOL, you still need to pick out the correct one. Premium IOLs will solve your vision issues. Most importantly, most patients don’t need glasses or contacts with premium IOLs. Here are some IOL options:
Accommodating IOLs:
Accommodating IOLs allow patients to see both near and far away. They respond to the eye’s movement to let you see different distances. If you have presbyopia, accommodating IOLs allow you to see distances without needing bifocal lenses for your glasses.
Multifocal IOLs:
These IOLs allow you to see objects close up and far away. 100% of the light that enters the eye hits the retina.
Aspheric IOLs:
Aspheric IOLs give patients better vision than a standard IOL. They’re not as common, but they are a great option for specific lifestyles, professions, and eye shapes.
Toric IOLs:
Toric IOLs are specifically designed for patients with astigmatism. They correct astigmatism while also providing clear vision.
Choose an IOL that fits your lifestyle
These options can provide you with clear vision while also correcting existing vision issues. For most patients, this means they no longer need to wear contacts or glasses.
When you are picking out an IOL you need to think about your lifestyle. You should consider what type of vision will fit your lifestyle best.
If you want to be able to see many distances, drive, and read without glasses, you need to consider that. Remember that certain IOLs are better for different things, so you need to think about what you value.
Are you ready to say goodbye to your cataracts? Schedule your cataract screening at Complete EyeCare West in Columbus, OH today! Don’t let cataracts run your life any longer!
