CATARACT MD Contact Lens Policy

Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers
Contact lenses can “mold” the corneal surface, which changes the corneal curvature and may lead to a change in your refraction (prescription). In order to properly calculate the treatment to correct your refractive error, you will have to stop wearing contact lenses at some stage prior to your appointments. In time, the cornea will return to its natural shape and size. CATARACT MD is dedicated to providing you with the most accurate treatment, and this can only be achieved if the corneal surface is stable and back to its natural shape.

For the vast majority of patients, the recommended minimum length of time for contact removal should suffice. However, the individual rate of corneal adjusting may vary. If your cornea is still adjusting at either the pre-operative or surgery appointment, you will be required to reschedule your appointment for a later date. This will allow the cornea to return to its natural shape and refraction to stabilize, thus providing you with an opportunity to attain the best possible outcome.

CATARACT MD cannot reimburse for time off work, hotel, airline tickets or any other expenses incurred due to rescheduling.

The difference in the length of times to remove contact lenses listed below is to ensure that the majority of out-of-town patients are not inconvenienced by rescheduling of appointments if corneal “molding” is apparent.

Medical evidence suggests that the likelihood of an enhancement is reduced the longer a patient has had their contact lenses out.

Removal of Contact Lenses Prior to the Pre-Operative Evaluation and Surgery Appointments

TYPE OF LENS WORN	BEFORE PRE-OPERATIVE EVALUATION		BEFORE SURGERY*
TYPE OF LENS WORN	Local Patient	Out-of-Town Patient	BEFORE SURGERY*
Soft Lenses ^[1] (daily wear, extended and toric)	Minimum 48 hours	Minimum 48 hours	Minimum 48 hours
Hard Lenses (toric and true/ Polymethyl methacrylate)	Minimum 2 weeks	Minimum 4 weeks	Minimum 48 hours
Rigid Gas Permeables (worn for 0-30+ yrs)	Minimum 2 weeks	Minimum 4 weeks	Minimum 48 hours

* Please note that this is only necessary in the eye(s) undergoing surgery and that patients can wear their contact lenses in the unoperated eye immediately following surgery.

[1] A minimum of 48 hours of soft contact lenses removal is adequate for the majority of patients. On occasion, however, we find that the eyes are red and irritated with some inflammation, during the pre-operative exam. These symptoms are due to wearing contact lenses for long periods of time. The doctor may advise to have a second evaluation with contact lenses removed for one week before surgery is booked. The doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory drops before surgery can be performed. This occurrence is not common. However it is important that patients are aware of this possible condition.