Can I wear progressive lenses after cataract surgery?

Asked by: Jennifer Feil  |  Last update: January 22, 2024
Score: 5/5 (9 votes)

Over-the-counter reading glasses are a suitable solution for many patients. Bifocals or progressives can also be fit to assist for near tasks after your eyes have healed from surgery.

Does Medicare pay for progressive glasses after cataract surgery?

Medicare covers all or a portion of new eyeglasses since a new prescription is necessary after the surgery. The vision coverage doesn't include add-ons like tinting, special coatings, or progressive lenses.

Will I need stronger reading glasses after cataract surgery?

Because most IOLs used in cataract surgery can only provide clear distance or clear near vision, you will need glasses to correct for whatever the lens doesn't provide. Usually, just one lens in your glasses needs to be updated for the eye that was operated on.

What are the best eyeglass lenses after cataract surgery?

If you're comfortable wearing glasses after cataract surgery, a monofocal lens may be the right choice. If you want to avoid wearing distance glasses after cataract surgery and have astigmatism, a toric lens might be appropriate.

How long should you wait to get glasses after cataract surgery?

When will I get my new glasses? We usually recommend waiting until your eye has settled, at around 6 weeks after surgery, before getting an eye test for your new glasses from your optician.

The Use of Glasses After Cataract Surgery with Dr Graham Fraenkel

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Can you wear bifocals after cataract surgery?

Over-the-counter reading glasses are a suitable solution for many patients. Bifocals or progressives can also be fit to assist for near tasks after your eyes have healed from surgery.

How long does it take for blurry vision to go away after cataract surgery?

In most cases, vision improves immediately after surgery, although pupils may remain dilated for 1-2 days. As the eyes heal and adjust, some patients may experience blurry vision. Blurry vision usually clears the day following the surgery. However, for some people vision can take several days to return to normal.

Should I get bifocals or progressives after cataract surgery?

Often, it's a good idea to purchase a pair of glasses for use as needed after cataract surgery. To see your best at all distances, progressive lenses often are the best solution. If sensitivity to light is a problem, photochromic lenses that darken automatically in sunlight usually are a great choice.

Can I wear the same glasses after cataract surgery?

Protective glasses are prescribed after cataract surgery. But for the purpose of reading, you can use your old glasses for up to 3 weeks until the refractive power of the operated eye stabilises, after which your doctor will prescribe new glasses.

Why hasn't my vision improved after cataract surgery?

If you've had cataract surgery and your vision is still blurry or hazy, you may have a common condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO). PCO, also sometimes called a “secondary cataract”, occurs when the capsule that holds the IOL in place gets obstructed by epithelial cells from the lens.

What happens if you don t wear sunglasses after cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery and sunglasses

Either way, the surgery has still left your retina vulnerable, and even if you have an IOL with that UV coating, you're still at risk to eye damage due to UV rays. You could even cause your cataracts to return as UV rays are one of the leading causes of cataracts.

Why is my vision blurry with glasses after cataract surgery?

Blurred vision is a common reaction to cataract surgery because your eyes need time to heal and adjust to the lens your doctor implanted.

What lenses does Medicare cover for cataract surgery?

Medicare covers medically necessary cataract surgery with standard intraocular lenses. Medicare won't cover advanced technology lenses or elective surgery primarily to correct vision from nearsightedness or astigmatism, called “refractive lens exchanges.”

Does Medicare pay for eye drops needed for cataract surgery?

Your doctor may prescribe eye drops and/or antibiotics after cataract surgery. These would be covered by a Medicare drug plan (Part D) or by your Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage included.

How long after cataract surgery can you lift 20 lbs?

Though it may be quite tempting, don't try to lift anything that's over 10 pounds in the first week after cataract surgery. If you consider yourself a weight lifter, avoid this exercise for at least 5 weeks to be safe.

What are the cons to progressive lenses?

Progressive lenses can also cause peripheral distortion when moving your eyes from side to side. During the learning period, you may feel off-balance or even nauseated from looking through the wrong section of the lens. Cost is also a factor.

What are the disadvantages of progressive additional lenses?

What Are the Disadvantages of Progressive Lenses?
  • #1: It can take time to get used to wearing progressive lenses.
  • #2: Some frames are unsuitable.
  • #3: Progressive lenses can cost more than single-vision lenses.

Which is better no line bifocals or progressive lenses?

Progressives provide a more natural correction of presbyopia than bifocals or trifocals. They are considered "multifocals" because there is a seamless progression from distance to near with an intermediate section in between. This provides many focal points in order to satisfy almost any visual need.

What happens if you accidentally bend over after cataract surgery?

There are several things people should avoid after eye surgery. Avoid bending over for the first 48 hours after the surgery, as this can cause pressure to build up in the eyes and interfere with healing.

How do I know if my lens has moved after cataract surgery?

Patients with a dislocated IOL may experience a decrease or change in vision, diplopia, and/or glare. Additionally, they may report ocular pain or headaches from intermittent angle-closure and/or inflammation. Some patients also report seeing the edge of the IOL.

Why is my eye still slightly hazy 3 months after cataract surgery?

Sometimes blurry vision is caused by PCO, a fairly common complication that can occur weeks, months or (more frequently) years after cataract surgery. It happens when the lens capsule, the membrane that holds your new, intraocular lens in place, becomes hazy or wrinkled and starts to cloud vision.

What are the disadvantages of cataract surgery?

What Are the Risks of Cataract Surgery?
  • Eye infection.
  • Bleeding in the eye.
  • Ongoing swelling of the front of the eye or inside of the eye.
  • Swelling of the retina (the nerve layer at the back of your eye).
  • Detached retina (when the retina lifts up from the back of the eye).
  • Damage to other parts of your eye.

Is laser cataract surgery worth the extra money?

Both methods are extremely successful and safe.” To translate that into simpler terms, on average, the evidence suggests that patients who have laser-assisted cataract surgery tend to see about as well as patients who have traditional cataract surgery. Not significantly better, or worse.

How do you wash your hair after cataract surgery?

You can shower or wash your hair the day after surgery. Keep water, soap, shampoo, hair spray, and shaving lotion out of your eye, especially for the first week. Do not rub or put pressure on your eye for at least 1 week.