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When Can I Use my Contacts After Eyelid Surgery?
asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 2,686 times
Tags: eyelids, contacts
When can I start putting my contacts in again after upper and lower blepharoplasty eyelid surgery?
32 answers to When Can I Use my Contacts After Eyelid Surgery?
+1
Use of contact lenses after blepharoplasty
Typically I tell my patients they need to wait at least 2 weeks before using contact lenses. If it’s just an upper eyelid surgery a week is enough. However if you are wearing hard contact lenses you may need to wait longer.
+2
Contact use after eye surgery
Many of my patients ask that question. I tell my patients that they may begin using their contact lenses approximately 2 weeks after eyelid surgery. Naturally, it depends on how the patient puts in their lens. Care should be taken when inserting the lenses so as not to separate the incision. Each doctor has their own recommendation so you should ask your own physician. Good luck
Carlos Wolf, MD
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Wearing contacts after eyelid surgery
As the other doctors have indicated, there are different methods of doing eyelid surgery. In general, however, I wouldn't want a patient to distract the eyelid for 2 weeks following surgery. In addition, the physiology of the tear function can take a while to get back to normal, and in more extensive lower lid procedures (eg. cheek lift) you would want to wait three weeks or more before wearing your contacts.
Paul W. Loewenstein, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon
+2
Wearing contacts after Blepharoplasty
This depends on the particular surgery you are getting. In general, I tell people to wait to wear contacts two weeks after the procedure to allow the incisions to heal and to give you time for any discomfort from the procedure to be more tolerable. The discomfort can be an issue with contacts when you have to stretch your eyelids to put them in. It usually happens that at 2 weeks, your discomfort from the procedure is also much improved for you to put your contacts in as well.
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+2
Contact lenses after blepharoplasty
The answer will vary by patient. Typically, for upper eyelid surgery, 1 week or so is enough. For lower eyelids, it is about 2 weeks or so (and will vary depending on how you are healing).
Sam Most, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Two weeks until contact lenses are OK after eyelid surgery
My smart aleck answer to this would be, "When your surgeon says so." Seriously, though, this is one question on which virtually all of us agree on the answer: about TWO WEEKS (three, if you really want to be super cautious).
All the best,
--DCP
David C. Pearson, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
The length of time before contacts depends on the type...
The length of time before contacts depends on the type of eyelid surgery that you have.
If you have upper eyelid surgery, generally a week is long enough for the incisions to heal before putting in contacts.
For lower eyelid surgery, things can get more complicated. There are several approaches to the lower eyelid. An incision can be made inside of the lower eyelid, called the transconjunctival approach. With this approach, two weeks is probably safer before wearing contacts again. In skin...
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+2
A very common blepharoplasty question is "when can I put...
A very common blepharoplasty question is “when can I put contacts in?" I usually say approximately ten days after the surgery.
I also instruct the patients that they will find their eyes quite tired for the first week after the surgery, simply because of the swelling around their eyelids, so I discourage reading for six to eight hours a day in the convalescent period.
+1
Contact lenses after blepharoplasty
I advise my patients to wait 2-3 weeks before trying to wear contact lenses. If there are any problems with insertion, then the lenses should be removed. Care should be taken in holding the eyelid open and you should be aware that the tearing of the eye may be different and require moisture drops in sone cases.
+1
Contact lens use
This is a great and important questions. It certainly depends upon how your surgery is performed. In general, I recommend two weeks after surgery before suing your contacts. Of course, please check with your surgeon. Two weeks, though, will allow for incisions to heal.
Sandy Sule, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Contacts after eyelid surgery
I allow my patients to try soft contact lenses as soon as 6-7 days following surgery. I encourage gas-permeable lens wearers to wait a little longer unless they can remove the lenses without tugging on the corner of the eye. This does not mean patients chose to wear the lenses so soon! The lids will feel funny - both numb and sensitive - for a few months after surgery and so may the lenses. Also - very important - I remind all patients before surgery to make sure they have current...
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+1
Wearing contacts after upper and lower eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty)
Contacts can be worn 4 or 5 days after upper eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty) but you have to wait 2 weeks after lower eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty). The reason is that there is some disruption to the normal function that tears play after any blepharoplasty. This is usually quickly better after upper blepharoplasty in a few days, but can take longer after lower blepharoplasty.
If a skin incision has been made, the lower blepharoplasty incision can pull apart if you pull down on your lower...
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Minas Constantinides, MD
Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon
Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Contacts after blepharoplasty
I have my patients wait 1 week to put in their contat lenses after lower blehparoplasty. If they are uncomfortable then I will have them wait another week.
Jason B. Diamond, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Contact Lenses after Eyelid Surgery
Generally a safe answer for when you return to wearing contacts after eyelid surgery is 2 weeks. However, patients having only upper eyelid surgery can wear their contacts sooner. The key is to wait until any eye irritation or dry eye symptoms after the surgery have passed prior to stimulating your eye with contacts.
In some cases, when a lower eyelid surgery is performed by making an incision inside the eyelid, I recommend waiting 3 weeks until patients resume with their contacts....
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Ankit Desai, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+1
Contact lenses and eyelid surgery
I tell patients that they can resume wearing contacts at about seven days after lower eyelid surgery. Occasionally, the swelling subsides faster than expected and they are able to place them a few days sooner.
When patients have their upper lids (only), they can resume wearing contact lenses in about five days.
Again, these are only guidelines, as patients may recover differently.
Andres Bustillo, MD
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
You can wear contacts immediately after blepharoplasty
If you have certain extended wear contact lenses, you may be a candidate to have your lenses in immediately. If your surgeon is comfortable with placing contact lenses, a pair of brand new lenses can be placed by your surgeon at the conclusion of the surgery, to be left in for a week. At the one week postop visit, fresh lenses can then be placed again by your surgeon. After two weeks, you may switch back to your normal routine.
Good luck!
Tanuj Nakra, MD
Austin Oculoplastic Surgeon
Austin Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1
Conctacts and eyelid surgery
I usually recommend one week if the upper eyelids were done alone, and 10 to 14 days for the lower eyelids. Time will vary between patients, but I usually like to see my patients at a week out and then assess how things are healing. If everything is proceeding as planned, then I will be able to offer a definitive time line.
Edmon Pierre Khoury, MD
Dubai Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dubai Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Contacts okay 2-3 weeks after eyelid surgery
Patients can usually restart wearing their contact lenses 2-3 weeks after surgery. We want the incisions to be well healed before the patient starts pulling on the skin. If you have a lot of swelling, you might have to wait longer. Hope this helps.
Tracy Pfeifer, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1
Using contacts after eyelid lifts
Contacts can be used pretty quickly after some procedures and need to be avoided after others. A simple guideline is one week after upper lid surgery and 4 weeks after lower lid surgery. Since the upper lid is not affected by pulling on the lower lid to put the contacts in, you can start using contacts much sooner after upper lid procedures. The lower lid is obviously affected by pulling on it, so I recommend being conservative and waiting 4 weeks to begin contact use after lower lid...
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+1
Contact lenses and eye surgery (blepharoplasty)
Depending on lower or upper eyelids, my recommendations differ.
For lower eyelids, I advise 3 weeks due to the pulling on the lid as well as the potential for dry eyes in the early postoperative period.
For upper eyelids, I sometimes allow my paitents to return to contact lens use as long as they do not apply traction to upper eyelid and institue liberal use of ocular lubricants.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Contacts after eye surgery
I usually have patients wait about 2 weeks after surgery before I let them wear contacts. I also want to make sure that there is no eye irritation before doing so.
+1
Blepheroplasty and contact lenses
You can use your contact lenses within a week or two. It depends on the swelling and how your wounds are healing.
The swelling may cause the contacts not to fit nicely, and the tear production if impairs will interfere with the contact lenses.
Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1
1-2 weeks before using contacts lenses after Eyelid surgery
In my practice, I generally advise people to wait about 1 to 2 weeks after Eyelid surgery to wear contact lenses. It is normal for there to be some decrease in tear production after eyelid surgery so it is a good idea to have contact lens lubricating drops. Of course it's important not to stretch the eyelids to place the contact lenses and to make sure your hands and contact lenses are sterile.
+1
Wearing contacts after Eyelid surgery
Hello!
In general, I recommend 1-2 weeks' of contact lens avoidance after Eyelid surgery. If you can get your contacts in without stretching your eyelids with your fingertips, 7-10 days after Upper Eyelid surgery should be fine.
With lower eyelid surgery, where the healing position is critical (and where there may be hidden incisions on the back side of the eyelid) 2 solid weeks is best.
Good luck!
+1
Contact lenses and blepharoplasty
I allow use of contact lenses after 48 hours if only the upper eye lid surgery was done. If lower eye lid surgery was performed after 7 days of healing, the contact lenses may be worn. This is true wheter the lower lid surgery was done with subciliary (skin incision) or the subconjunctival (inside approach, no skin incision) approach.
These time frame assumes there are no unusual complications from the eye lid surgery at the time of this recovery period. Conjunctival swelling or chemosis,...
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Kun Kim, MD
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1
Contact lenses usually OK one week after eyelid surgery.
Hi.
Every patient is different. In New York, we tell patients to try their contacts one week after blepharoplasty. If not comfortable, then they wait a few more days.
+1
Contact lenses after Eyelid Surgery
Generally, you can start wearing contact lenses within 1-2 weeks after eyelid surgery. If you have only an upper Blepharoplasty you can start wearing your lenses in about 1 week. However, if you experience excessive swelling or dryness it can take 2 weeks or longer.
Todd B. Koch, MD
Buffalo Plastic Surgeon
Buffalo Plastic Surgeon
+1
Contact lens use after eyelid surgery
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,...
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Pamela B. Rosen, MD
Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon
Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon
+1
Wearing Contacts after Eyelid Surgery
The cheeks, eyelids, eyebrow, and eyes may be sensitive after facial surgery. Some patients find the contacts too uncomfortable to wear, even if they haven't had eyelid surgery.
Generally, it's recommended that most patients do not wear contacts for at least two weeks after eyelid surgery. One week may be sufficient, if you've only had upper eyelid surgery.
Post-surgery instructions vary by surgery, patient, and surgeon. Follow the guidelines for your plastic surgeon, and ask him/her any...
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+1
As soon as the sutures are out-5 days
I permit my patients to use contacts as soon as the sutures are out. However, this does not mean they can tolerate them. The eyes will be sensitive after surgery and some patients find the contacts too uncomfortable to wear. My physician's assistant of years ago had her eyes done and told me she was not perfectly comfortable with her contacts for a couple of months. That's unusual but you never know.
http://www.zubowicz.com/subpag,22-atlanta-eyelid.htm
+1
Wait at least 2 or 3 weeks after blepharoplasty to wear contacts
Your eyes can be dryer than normal following blepharoplasty which makes wearing contacts uncomfortable and potentially injurious to your cornea. In addition, we do not want you to manipulate the eyelids to place contacts until the surgical sites are healing. For these reasons I recommend waiting 2 weeks after upper blepharoplasty before wearing contacts.
I use a transconjunctival blepharoplasty approach with an internal laser incision for lower blepharoplasty. I do not want the contact...
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+1
Contact use after eyelid surgery
Typically, we recommend that most patient do not wear their contacts for at least two weeks after eyelid surgery. If you are only having the upper eyelids done, then a week may be sufficient. For the lower eyelids, we typically recommend two weeks to avoid interfering with the incision or getting trapped in the bottom of the lower eyelids.
Scott Trimas, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
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