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Trouble wearing contacts after cataract surgery

Had cataract surgery done twice (IOL moved out of place the first time) on my right eye about 1.5 years ago and on my left eye about 1 year ago.  Left eye is near 20/25, right ended up nearsighted (1.75), so I would like a contact lens most times on right eye.

I had successfully worn contacts for 20+ years before surgery.  Problem now is every time I try to wear contact it feels fine while I am wearing it, but that night and the next day or two the eye becomes very irritated, really red, and watery for a couple of days.  I have tried not wearing contacts for a month or so, or only wearing an hour at a time, but the eye still gets very red and sore.  Another odd thing is that my right ear also is itchy and the ear canal feels swollen whenever the eye is acting up.

My contact lens guy has been trying many (7) lenses with different water content or material or diameter, etc., and ophthalmologist says he doesn't really see a problem, could be dryness after surgery?

Might also add that I had the YaG treatment on that same right eye because of early PCO.

Any suggestions on what I should try next?  Keep on trying contacts or look for a deeper problem?  Is it possible there is some eye and/or ear infection is causing this problem?  Should I be seeing an eye/ear/throat doc?  Should I be able to wear contacts after cataract surgery?

Thanks for any help!
  
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Avatar universal
Everybody's different, but I'd suggest that you try Extreme H2O and One-Day Acuvue Moist.  I've found them to be the most comfortable contacts around.
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The percentage of contact lens wearers that have to stop wearing their contacts because of pain, redness, blurred vision, etc increases each year, after 40 it skyrockets. You don't see many 50-70 year old people wearing contacts.

There are many reasons why your contacts don't feel like they did 20 years ago. What else in your body doesn't feel like it did 20 years ago.

If a competent contact lens fitter can't do anything with your situation you will probably need to stop wearing your contacts before you hurt your eyes.

If you are a post menopausal female then an underlying dry eye problem is highly likely.

JCH III MD
Helpful - 0

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