Lenses for cataracts in adults

Can lenses be worn with cataracts?

The term “cataract” refers to a pathological condition in which the lens, which in the normal state should be completely transparent, begins to become cloudy. It may become cloudy partially or completely. It depends on the degree of visual impairment. The eye is similar in structure to a camera. Under the cornea is a natural lens – the lens, which is absolutely transparent and flexible, it can change its curvature in order to clearly focus the image on the surface of the retina. If the lens, for various reasons, loses its transparency, becomes cloudy, this significantly affects its functionality.

Against the background of cataracts, the use of lenses is possible in two cases – in the presence of additional problems with vision or after surgery has been performed on the lens.

Contact lenses against the background of cataracts can be recommended for people who also suffer from myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism. But when using lenses, there are certain problems – due to them, the access of oxygen to the eye surfaces is reduced, which, against the background of cataracts, can be an unfavorable factor. However, some types of lenses have protection against ultraviolet radiation, which can adversely affect the course of cataracts, accelerating its maturation. Therefore, the approach to wearing lenses in this pathology is individual.

In the postoperative period, the indication for wearing contact lenses will be the absence of the lens in the eye. In cataract surgery, the doctor completely removes the lens, unless it is replaced with an artificial one, the eye cannot focus the image on the retina. Glasses, intraocular lenses (implantable) or contact lenses can be used to correct this problem. They are selected individually and only with a doctor.

Which lenses are best for cataracts?

After the lens is surgically removed, two types of lenses can be used to correct vision:

• hard lenses (gas permeable);
• silicone soft lenses.

In the absence of complications, the use of contact lenses is possible already 7-10 days after cataract surgery. Rigid lens types are sometimes recommended for people who have had surgery under local anesthesia. With soft lenses, there is no such problem; they are easy to put on in the morning after waking up.

At first, you need to wear lenses part of the day. If the operation was bilateral, then it is possible to install two different lenses – one for clear vision of distant objects, the second – for the possibility of near vision. A similar procedure is called “monovision”, but lenses can only be selected for far or near vision, and glasses are also recommended to correct remaining problems.

How are cataract lenses different from regular lenses?

During the surgical removal of a cataract, we are talking about intraocular lenses that are placed in place of your own lens, which has ceased to perform its functions. These lenses, unlike contact lenses, are implanted in place of the removed lens and stay there forever. They do not need to be taken out and put back in, they completely replace the lens. But such an operation may not be indicated for all patients.

Reviews of doctors about lenses for cataracts

“Of course, speaking about the use of lenses for cataracts, we prefer intraocular lenses, which allows us to restore visual functions to the patient,” says ophthalmologist Olga Gladkova. – Currently, there are operations to replace the transparent lens with an intraocular lens in order to correct high-grade visual impairment when keratorefractive surgery does not give a good result.

Popular questions and answers

We discussed with ophthalmologist Olga Gladkova issues of wearing contact lenses for cataracts, the main contraindications to their use and features of choice.