May 1, 2008

EYE MAN: Contacts are reversible, but surgery is permanent

By Andrew Soss / Daily News Columnist

Dr. Soss: I've worn eyeglasses for a lot of years now and am considering either wearing contact lenses or just getting eye surgery to correct my vision. The thought of putting something in my eye is not too appealing to me. And, if I have the surgery, even though it costs more, I won't have to worry about the hassle of contact lenses. When I told this to my eye doctor, he said that I have to get contact lenses first before I have surgery. Why can't I make the decision as to what I want to do?

M.T.



M.T.: I do like the idea that you are trying to rationally decide (given your base of knowledge) what is the best decision for you. So, let us weigh the pluses and minuses of your dilemma.

Contact lenses are not permanent. Therefore, if something about the vision is disturbing to you, the decision can be fully reversed. For example (you did not mention your age), if you wear bifocal eyeglasses you would need one of three options to correct your vision. You could have your distance vision only corrected with both eyes (this would require you to wear reading glasses over your contact lenses). Secondly, you could have one eye corrected for distance and the other eye for near. The last option would be to wear bifocal contact lenses. If you were not happy with any of these options, then you would be happy that you did not have a permanent surgical procedure performed on you.

On the other hand, if option one or two was successful, then considering a refractive surgical procedure would be reasonable. These options are so easy to try for a relatively short time with contact lenses that it would make sense to try them with contact lenses first, especially with the second option. However, no superficial surgical refractive procedure can perform like a bifocal contact lens, if successful. This might be the best option for a number of people.

The bottom line is that surgery is surgery; it does have risks. Certainly, contact lenses have risks too. However, I believe it is probably a better idea to consider, even for a short time, wearing contact lenses. Once you are completely clear on what is best for you, then I agree, it is your decision to make. Do not rule out all of your options from lack of experience.



Questions to Dr. Soss should be sent to his e-mail theeyedoctor@att.net or via his Web site at www.dr-andrewsoss.com. All answers & opinions are those of Dr. Soss and not necessarily shared, endorsed or affiliated with this or any of our newspaper agencies.
Dr. Andrew C. Soss OD, FAAO has been practicing for over 20 years. During that time he has been a clinical instructor in the department of ocular pathology at the University of California. As a primary eye care provider in private practice in Burlingame, he is also board certified in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of primary open angle glaucoma.