Can contacts be worn after retinal detachment surgery?

Yes: Once the eye has healed after repair generally contact lenses can be worn. Often, if a scleral buckle was used which encircles the eyeball this can induce more nearsightedness. If this happens in one eye and is excessive, correction with contact lenses rather than glasses may be more comfortable.

Yes: Retinal detachment surgery can change someone's refraction. Also sometimes a patient is left aphakic if the lens is removed. Contacts are needed in those eyes.

Not right away: Do not use contact lenses until your retina specialist clears you and says your eye has healed. Also, your prescription may have changed from the surgery itself (scleral buckles induce more myopia [nearsightedness], and vitrectomy accelerates cataract formation). Ask your retinal specialist.