help please

[Sam Farmer]

Hey
I've been diagnosed with keratoconus for just under a year now my visions been getting worse since about 2003, i went to my local optician who prescribed me with glasses which did absolutly nothing so i never bought them. I put up with the bad eyesight for another year or so till i decided to seek another opinion.

Since the beginning of march my optician has been trying to fit me with RGP's but so far I've had a run of bad luck i must have tried 50 different lenses over the past 8-9 months and i just cant seem to get any that are comfortable even though they appear to fit perfectly, I know some of you must have had a similar experience, I just need some help because my motivation to continue with contacts is pretty much out the window.

I've had a pair recently that seemed to be fine but after a week or two i just couldn't wear them anymore they became so irratating and i found it harder to see with them then without.

Would love to hear some of your stories and advice

Regards Sam

[John Smith]

Hello Sam, and welcome to the forum.

You are certainly describing what many of us have to go through when getting fitted with contact lenses. Fitting someone with KC is probably more art than science, especially with "normal" RGP corneal lenses.

You may like to suggest that you try "Rose K" lenses - which are more comfortable, and easier to fit than regular lenses, or some of the more weird and wonderful types: softperms or sclerals. Perhaps you need a different optician - one who specialises in patients with KC?

You may also like to visit our friends at Keratoconus Australia who have a strong network in your country, and will have a better idea of local conditions!

All the best,

[Sweet]

Sam, welcome to the forum!

Fitting contact lenses is so difficult with KC but please don't give up hope. There are plenty of variations out there and loads of different opinions from optometrists.

I have had a RGP lens for fifteen years, and have only had problems with dryness and a red eye for about two years. Now i 'piggy back' my RGP lens, which basically means that i wear it over a soft lens. The soft lens is plain and acts like a 'cushion' and is much more comfortable, so you may like to try that if the problem you are experiencing is more pain related than the actual lens itself. Some though find it hard with two lenses and extra cleaning etc, but i find it brilliant and get just as good vision but no pain!

Also as John said, there are many other lenses, such as Rose K and sclerals etc, so i think you may need to go back and ask your optometrist for some advice. Unless you try a new lens you'll never know, because i think you may have got to the end of RGPs with the number you have tried!

Wishing you all the best. and please come back and let us know how you are getting on!

Merry Christmas, Sweet X x X

[Paul Osborne]

Hi Sam,

It is a bit of a shock having it thrown at you isn't it?

I understand the shock and the information overload that you will be getting (I only found out that I have KC myself 3 months ago) and to be honest I found it quite overwhelming to start with.

Anyway welcome to the group.

I have found this is a good place to sound out hopes and fears.

Paul

[rosemary johnson]

Hi Sam, and welcome to the group.
Sorry to hear you're having such problems getting lenses to fit.
Is that problem that whatever lens the optom puts in, it feels uncomfy, or that it feels OK in the clinic, and gets worse as you go home and try to live with them?
COuld it be that they look a great fit when you're sitting staring into space and don't get on well when you try actually looking at the things you need to see in your daily life?

I can't really tell you what is the answer for you, not having seen your eyes and not being an optom....
.... but have had a smilar problem with contacts that will get a tick in all the right boxes for appearing to be the right fit, good tear exchange etc etc - while I'm sittingrelaxing, out for a stroll on the marshes, or similar - but as soon as I try to get on with some paperwork, or try to read my computer screen, I can see so little and so many ghost images I have to screw my eyes up so much to read, the lenses become so hideously uncomfortable I can do better without them!
The answer?? - persuade the "professionals" that ticking all their right boxes is N.B.G. to me if I can't get on with my life and my job, and what I need is something I can actually work in - however many of their nice right boxes don't get the right ticks any more.
In my case - having been wearing sclerals snce the word go - it resulted in piggybacking.
You mileage may vary. I am Not A Lawyer, Stock market prices can go up as well as down, etc etc.
Good luck! - and if you try sclerals, don't panic when you first see one!
Rosemary

[Sam Farmer]

Hey peoples
Thanks for all the input much appreciated, I gave my Optician a call this morning to ask about the "piggy back" method he said in my line of work as an electrician i might have a bit of trouble with them especially on windy days they tend to dry up and the RGP can pop off. He said their currently developing a lens in australia where the hydrogel lens is actually attached to the RGP not seperate he's gonna have a look into that for me. He said the main problem with them though is there life span, there not very durable etc.

I've had a look on the net about those scleral lenses there bloody massive, the main reason im having trouble with contacts is that i have a large astigmatism that is off centre so having alot of trouble getting lenses to fit.

[John Smith]

Hi Sam,

I think that a scleral lens does cope with quite a large astygmatism, and it copes with an off-centre cone too, as the lenses are not symmetrical.

Don't get put off by the size of sclerals. Once you're used to them, they are surprisingly comfortable; although it must be said, some people can't cope with them.

[GarethB]

Hi Sam,

I found the type o lens solutions I use made a big difference regarding comfort.

For out door working, the little I do and the outdoor hobies I have, wind can be a problem. The dark glasses I wear are safety glasses from North Ridge Safety and are designed for outdoor use and dust conditions.

Had very little problems since started wearing them.

Gareth