When to Wear Glasses After Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure done to reconstruct the nose. It is performed to improve the aesthetic look of the nose and make it in harmony with the rest of the face. It is also done to remove the blockage in the airway to help a person breathe easily and properly. In most cases, both the aesthetic and functional purposes are considered in the same procedure.

Rhinoplasty is a procedure that changes the quality of life completely, but patients should be careful about the recovery process after the surgery. Any vibration or pressure may change the result or postpone recovery. This means that patients with glasses must make some changes in their life during recovery.

Why is wearing glasses a problem after rhinoplasty?

If a person is used to wearing glasses, then they are not aware of its weight or they are used to the pressure it makes on the nasal bridge. However, this pressure can make a big difference during recovery. After rhinoplasty, most patients have broken bones and these bones and tissue should be kept stable during recovery.  The pressure the glasses make on the nasal bridge may lead to a slight shift that will give harm to the cartilage. Since the results of rhinoplasty is permanent and since the revision rhinoplasty procedure involves some difficulties, extra attention should be given.

Recovery after rhinoplasty

After rhinoplasty, many people have difficulty understanding how much it will take to recover completely. The cartilage, bone and skin of the nose will look much better in a few weeks and the person can go back to daily activities, but complete recovery and seeing the final result will take months.

When to wear glasses after rhinoplasty

When to wear your glasses changes according to the difficulty of the rhinoplasty procedure and the condition of the patient. After rhinoplasty surgery, the doctor puts splint on the nose in order to protect it and to stabilize the bones. During this period, you can wear your glasses. However, after the splint is removed, the recovery process continues and there is nothing left on the nose to protect it. Since the nose is still soft, the weight of glasses would press the healing nasal bones. As a result, it may deform the shape of the nose. That’s why; it is important to protect the nose against any pressure until recovery is completed. The patient must wait between two to six months before they start wearing their glasses.  

Your eyewear options during rhinoplasty recovery

Even though you can wear your contact lenses after rhinoplasty during recovery, it may not be an appropriate solution for all.  Because glasses usually rest on the bridge of the nose, most of the eyewear options for post-rhinoplasty patients involve shifting the weight elsewhere on the face. While some patients choose to get bridgeless glasses, others prefer to use a device that clips directly to the glasses and allows them to rest on the cheeks.  Rhinoplasty glasses are ultra-light and don’t press on the bridge of the nose.  That’s why; there is no risk of using them.

Another option people may consider after rhinoplasty surgery is to strap their glasses onto their forehead. This will fix the glasses and prevent it to press on the bridge of the nose. There is also a glass support for post-rhinoplasty patients on the market. People can use these glasses while driving or doing other daily chores. Adapting to these options may take some time, but it will only be a solution for a short-time and worth it.  Your doctor will recommend you the best option during recovery.