UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello All, I was hoping to pick your collective brains briefly! I have noticed that my patients I fit in the hospital with lenses such as sclerals, mini-sclerals, soclears, synergeyes etc, some of whom rely on a little lens holder ('large sucker') for inserting the lens and little suckers for removi...

That's really outrageous. SO unsympathetic! Why on earth should it matter that you went privately for some of your treatment? The Consultant should have applauded you for being proactive and for saving the NHS hundreds of pounds, as you've saved them a job. Thankfully this is not the mentality of mo...

Hi Shiraz, To answer your questions.. ICD lenses have pretty much the same oxygen permeability as SoClear lenses. They are not actually made of the same material, but the Dk (unit of oxygen permeability) is very similar. Both have a very high Dk, and for the vast majority of people should let adequa...

Hia, I fit a lot of scleral and semi-scleral lenses, and I agree bubbles can be a pain in the bum for many new wearers! But no doubt you will get over that bump and crack it soon. The tips already given are spot on. To summarise proper insertion technique: - Make sure the lens is filled to the very ...

Brian Tompkins in Northampton is fantastic. Not too far from Milton Keynes? His practice is Tompkins Knight & Son.

Hi oneeyedraz, Having just read your post, the first thing that came to mind was 'ICD lenses would work for this person'. ICD stands for Irregular Corneal Design, and they are a bit like SoClears, but about 2mm bigger at 16.5mm diameter. Because of the extra size they can vault over your entire corn...

Hi lasikmonkey, There are a few manufacturers besides Ken of mini-scleral type lenses, around the 14mm diameter mark, and there is a new lens design just been launched called ICD ('irregular cornea design') which are 16.5mm diameter, and can vault most irregularities. They are very new so you may ha...

There's a solution called Menicare Plus (made by Menicon) which is an RGP solution and has a much less gloopy consistancy than Boston/B+L/Boots. It's good stuff, and my patients seem to get on with it well. The only trouble is not many places stock it, but I'm pretty sure you can buy it online. Alte...

Hello, I have been using a Miraflow copy-cat called 'Crystal Cleaner', which is very similar indeed, and alcohol-based just like Miraflow. It works just as well. Your optom can get it from a contact lens manufacturer called No.7. Moorfields are also now stocking it. Hope that helps! By the way, to t...

Hello, Loads of good suggestions here about treating the cause of dry eyes and artificial tears, but just a thought about lens types and dry eyes- you might want to consider trying a lens which can protect the corneas, such as a mini-scleral lens. These can be from 14-18mm ish and vault the cornea, ...