The term “cataract” is a pathological condition in which the lens, which normally should be completely transparent, begins to grow cloudy. It may cloud partially or completely. The degree of visual impairment depends on this. The structure of the eye is much like a camera. A natural lens is located under the cornea – a 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 vision problems or after surgery on the lens has been performed
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 ocular surfaces is reduced, which against the background of cataracts can be an unfavorable factor. However, some types of lenses are protected from ultraviolet radiation, which can negatively affect the course of cataracts, accelerating its maturation. Therefore, the approach to wearing lenses for 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 case of cataract during the operation, the doctor completely removes the lens, if it is not 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.
What lenses are best for cataracts
After the lens is surgically removed, two types of lenses can be used to correct vision:
- rigid lenses (gas permeable);
- silicone soft lenses.
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The doctor will select the type and size of contact lenses for you, however, they come from different materials and differ in price – it depends on the manufacturer. Which one is better, you can decide if you check out our ranking of the best contact lenses.
In the absence of complications, the use of contact lenses is possible within 7 to 10 days after cataract surgery. Sometimes rigid types of lenses are recommended for people who have undergone surgery under local anesthesia. There is no such problem with soft lenses, they are easy to put on in the morning after waking up.
At first, you need to wear lenses for an incomplete 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 near vision. This procedure is called “monovision”, but it is possible to select lenses only for far or near vision, and to correct the remaining problems, it is also recommended to wear glasses.
What is the difference between lenses for cataracts from ordinary ones
With the surgical removal of cataracts, we are talking about intraocular lenses, which are placed in the place of their own lens, which has ceased to perform its functions. These lenses, unlike contact lenses, are implanted in the place of the removed lens and are always there. They do not need to be removed and put back on, they completely replace the lens.
But such an operation may not be shown to all patients.
Reviews of doctors about lenses for cataracts
– Of course, speaking about the use of lenses for cataracts, we give preference to intraocular lenses, which allows the patient to restore visual functions, – says Olga Gladkova, ophthalmologist. – 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 the ophthalmologist Olga Gladkova the issues of wearing contact lenses for cataracts, the main contraindications to their use and the peculiarities of choice.