Are new soft contact lenses for keratoconus? Why no Kerasoft

[Camilo Umana]

I am learning about the Kerasoft system but I read that the adaptation is complicated for somebody that has been using RGP for 15 years as myself...
I work in a computer all the day and it could be a disaster the adaptation...
Also, I live in an small city in Germany and think it is a problem.

At least I am having problems with my RGP lens twice in a week. Feel the eye hurt and have to take out the lens for the rest of the day...
My optician perhaps is not the besttrained one and after 2 years says we may do trial tests for the first time...
Ugh, 2 years and tests only now?

I would like to know which could be the sane path to improve my vision.
Have the germans a similar lens as the laureate british mentioned?

[Anne Klepacz]

Hi Camilo and welcome to the forum,
There are other people here who can tell you more about Kerasoft than I can. But to find out what lenses are available in Germany, have you looked at the German KC forum which might have more information about that? www.forum.keratokonus.de
Anne

[GarethB]

When I was at a contact lens in Holland earlier this year, there were a number of German delegates who spoke to me about the Kerasoft lenses and how I manage because they wanted to share my expereinces as a lens wearer with their patinets, so they are being fitted in Germany.

I have been wearing Kerasoft lenses for 18 months now after wearing RGP lenses for 4 years. The initial fitting gave be very good vision (6/6) with the Keraoft 3 lens but over a three month period the vision did drop off but still within the UK driving standard so I could still function normally. I was then given a new prescription (Kerasoft IC as it was undergoing clinical trials) which lasted a further 9 months, this time is was 6/5 dropping to 6/12 in my right eye and 6/9 for my left so I could easily function normally. All this was due to me cornea demoulding from the RGP lenses. In January this year we adjusted the prescription slightly staying with the KErasoft IC as it had been launched as a product in November 2009 and for the past six months my vision has been a constant 6/5+.

From the peopl that I have spoken with, the adaptation has ben either like mine and going straight over to the soft lens or changing the lens in one eye at a time. As to which is the sane path is to be honest something that needs to be discussed between you and your optomotrists. From the confrences I have been to, the lens manufacturer has always offered to support the lens fitter and guide where necessary to help them learn how best to fit and manage the lens. I have seen optometrists at confrences visit the manufacturer with topographys of a patients eye and ask what lens they should start with and what to look for with respect to a good fit and they have always taken time to help and guide them.

For me taking the step to try the Kerasoft lenses is one I am glad to have taken as I now see better than I ever did with RGP lenses and I can wear lenses all my waking hours, on some occassions this has been 19 hours for three consecutive days in air condition offices and bright lights. I no longer suffer light sensitivity or dry eyes, so it is much easier for me to work with computers. There is no guarentee that this is the lens for you, but from what you describe, you may have nothing to loose by trying the soft lenses.

[Andrew MacLean]

Like the others, I want to welcome you to the forum.

I think it is worth just adding that ordinary soft lenses are not really suitable for keratoconus; they tend to hug the contour of the eye so that the misshapen cornea that gives us so much trouble just produces a misshapen contact lens.

Newer soft lenses for keratoconus overcome this problem.

Every good wish

Andrew

[Lynn White]

Hi Camilo

I am an optometrist who consults with the company that manufactures KeraSoft and is involved with the design and development of this lens.

First of all, KeraSoft is available in Germany through the distributor Bach Optic http://www.bachoptik.de

Secondly, if you are wearing RGP lenses, it usually take 2 weeks for the most adaptation to take place. There are changes over the following months, as Gareth says, but it is often found that the original prescription still works fine after several months.

If you want more information, please email me at: lynn.white@ultravision.co.uk

Lynn

[MartinC]

Before moving to kerasoft IC lenses just over a year ago I had worn RGP lenses pretty much every day for 20 years! I am today wearing the kerasoft lenses I was fitted with originally ( due to damaging a newer one) and still getting excellent vision!