Why Has my Vision Deteriorated After Eyelid Surgery?

As I have also experienced it with my own patients it is possible to see a change in the eye prescription after eyelid surgery. I don't know exactly what are the causes of it, but I know that it can happen and I educate my patients about this phenomena.

It is fairly common to have temporary vision changes after blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), especially if both the upper and lower lids are operated on at the same time. As with any surgery, swelling occurs during the healing process. When that swelling occurs in the eyelids, some slight and minor pressure is placed on the eye itself. The orbital bone (commonly known as the “eye socket”) is a tight space, so when the swelling from eyelid surgery pushes back on the eye, the eye itself temporarily changes in shape. It actually becomes shorter, which directly affects the focal distance of your vision. As the swelling starts to go down, the eye will return to its normal shape and your focus will recover as well.

Another issue that can affect contact wearers is increased dryness of the eyes after blepharoplasty which can severely affect the patient's ability to tolerate wearing lenses and maintaining clear vision with them in.

No doubt your optometrist is a very nice and well meaning individual. However it is absurd to speculate on something like this. An induced astigmatism is very easily measured with corneal topography. Many optometrists have this technology. However the cornea speicalist went to medical school and was academically successful to obtain a residency in ophthalmology. By comparison, the optometrist did not go to medical school. Part of what you get is brain power when you see the cornea specialist. My guess is that your eye lid surgery is affecting the ability of your eyes to support the contact lens.