Bifocal contacts after cataract surgery

[young_with_eye_problems]

I've never worn contact lenses before.  In fact, I hardly had to wear glasses until about a year ago.  Now I have to have cataract surgery b/c undiagnosed diabetes had its wrath with me.  Anyway, I've decided that monofocal lenses are the safest and best lens implant choice.  My question is: can I wear bifocal contact lenses after I get monofocal cataract surgery and if so, what should I expect?

Thanks!!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[JodieJ]

Everyone's different, but I greatly preferred monovision to bifocal contacts.  (Better quality of vision IMO.)  In addition, bifocal contacts tend to be somewhat thicker and less comfortable than many of the contacts available for monovision.

But why not minimize your need for glasses by having your monofocal IOLs set for blended vision (distance vision in dominant eye, intermediate in non-dominant).  If all goes as planned, you'd only need glasses for prolonged reading or seeing small print.  Then you can forget about the contacts.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Expect a lot of trouble wearing contacts are your age having never worn them before and a success rate of at best 20%.

JCH MD