Pamela B. Rosen, MD

 When it comes to surgical recovery, it's always better to be safe than sorry.  I advise my blepharoplasty patients to avoid contact lens use for 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.  Several years ago one of my patients put her lenses in one week after upper and lower eyelid surgery (without my permission), and the lens became stuck.  Needless to say, this resulted in a considerable amount of discomfort and stress, plus a visit to the eye doctor.       For the newer technique of lower eyelid surgery, in which we remove the fat pads through an incision inside the lower lid (not through the skin) I recommend waiting 3 weeks for contact lens use.  If upper lids alone are done, lens use after 2 weeks is permissible.