Richard
I'm sure Gareth will have some tips, as I've never used specifically Kerasoft lenses but presumably they are similar to ordinary soft contact lenses which I have used in that they are quite flexible? -indeed I still do use a thick soft lens in one eye.
First - it sounds like you might be putting the lens in inside out sometimes - if you do that it does give excruciating pain to start with! If you can see well enough (which is always a problem for us!) you can tell if the lens is the right way because when it is inside out there will be a kind of "lip" at the edge rather than a slightly concave edge. Have a look at
http://www.alconinc.com/au/eo/clc/B3_InsertRemove.jhtml
I could/can never ever get my soft lenses out by pinching them on the eye - I just slide them towards my nose as I look away from the nose and they start to fold up as they get to the corner and them you can just take them out if they don't spring out first..
I agree with you they are not as easy to remove as RGP's (but they are a darn sight more comfortable!) but you do get used to removing them after a few goes .
Hope that is of some help.
Kerasoft fitting update
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GarethB
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Hi Richard,
I am trying Kerasoft so I can resume motor racing. RGP lenses are banned by the Motor Sport Association and the FIA.
With RGP's I get a comfortable 12 hours comfortable 6/6 vision.
After a few hours I get fogging up and this is down to poor oxygen transfer and subsequent water logging of the back surface of the cornea which is not good!
I too have poor tear production and without Systane by Alcon, I can not wear lenses for more than a couple of hours. This helped by the fact I only drink a max of 2 cups coffee per day, at least 2 litres of water and rather than drink fruit juice, i eat the fruit instead which is a whole lot better for you. This is what it took to get comfortable RGP lens wear. I thought the lens was ill fitting which it was because it kept moving away from where it should be to correct the KC due to dry eyes.
The dietry change allowed me to get 1 hours lens wear by itslef, Systane on its won 2 hours, the two together 12 hours, quite a change. Now I only use systane morning and night, for a month I had to use it every 2 hours, but as the cornea healed from where the lens had been rubbing comfort improved and gradually I backed of to wher i am at now. This took three months, but the last 12 have been up at excellent lens wear and comfort times.
Putting lenses in without air bubbles I have not masterd, but once the lens is in I look to see if there is an air bubble. to remove it I close the eye lid and gently massage the eye lid from the centre out which just pushes the bubble to the edge and all is OK.
Taking them out, I use the pinch method, it is so gentle you will not harm your lens or eye one bit. The only chances of damage are if you have long finger nails. However as with any contact lens maintenance hygiene is important.
Without sight correction it is hard to tell if a lens is inside out, I can feel if it is the correct way, but it is hard to describe. When i get back from work, I will scan in a picture I have of a soft lens the correct way round and inside out so you can see the difference. It is how the outer lip curves outwards that I can feel, the lens edge suddenly goes the wrong direction!
My lenses also hurt like hell, more than the RGP's. I think this is down to the solution I use. Since rinsing them with saline prior to putting them in, they are a lot more comfortable as I would expect a soft lens to be.
Hope this helps.
I am trying Kerasoft so I can resume motor racing. RGP lenses are banned by the Motor Sport Association and the FIA.
With RGP's I get a comfortable 12 hours comfortable 6/6 vision.
After a few hours I get fogging up and this is down to poor oxygen transfer and subsequent water logging of the back surface of the cornea which is not good!
I too have poor tear production and without Systane by Alcon, I can not wear lenses for more than a couple of hours. This helped by the fact I only drink a max of 2 cups coffee per day, at least 2 litres of water and rather than drink fruit juice, i eat the fruit instead which is a whole lot better for you. This is what it took to get comfortable RGP lens wear. I thought the lens was ill fitting which it was because it kept moving away from where it should be to correct the KC due to dry eyes.
The dietry change allowed me to get 1 hours lens wear by itslef, Systane on its won 2 hours, the two together 12 hours, quite a change. Now I only use systane morning and night, for a month I had to use it every 2 hours, but as the cornea healed from where the lens had been rubbing comfort improved and gradually I backed of to wher i am at now. This took three months, but the last 12 have been up at excellent lens wear and comfort times.
Putting lenses in without air bubbles I have not masterd, but once the lens is in I look to see if there is an air bubble. to remove it I close the eye lid and gently massage the eye lid from the centre out which just pushes the bubble to the edge and all is OK.
Taking them out, I use the pinch method, it is so gentle you will not harm your lens or eye one bit. The only chances of damage are if you have long finger nails. However as with any contact lens maintenance hygiene is important.
Without sight correction it is hard to tell if a lens is inside out, I can feel if it is the correct way, but it is hard to describe. When i get back from work, I will scan in a picture I have of a soft lens the correct way round and inside out so you can see the difference. It is how the outer lip curves outwards that I can feel, the lens edge suddenly goes the wrong direction!
My lenses also hurt like hell, more than the RGP's. I think this is down to the solution I use. Since rinsing them with saline prior to putting them in, they are a lot more comfortable as I would expect a soft lens to be.
Hope this helps.
Gareth
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Rich Moore
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GarethB
- Ambassador
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- Joined: Sat 21 Aug 2004 3:31 pm
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
- Location: Warwickshire
Before I continue, I must point out that I have had a graft in each eye and the KC I have 20 years post graft is relativly advanced which are already two major factors going against getting a Kerasoft lens to fit!
To recap, this was to have a spare set of lenses if the RGP's were irritable and the bonus would be to get 6/6 vision so that I could start motor racing again!
After several weeks, the pain of the right lens went, this was because the soft lens is much larger than my RGP so something my eye had to get used too. Lens solutions were a problem, but perservering and with a fresh bottle after the hospital one ran out this was no longer an issue. Then started the lens wear build up time.
Several days were taken off from wearing the RGP, plenty of fluids and systane so the eye was properly hydrated and recoverd from RGP lens wear.
1 hour on the first day was fine, second day 2 hours still fine, day three aiming for three hours got to 2 1/2 and things started to fog up. Lens out have a rest and everything had rainbow halos round. I have had this over and over and 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hours is the max which is no good.
New lens had not turned up at the hospital which was a bit of a blessing. Corneal waterlogging risks damaging the innermost layer of my graft. Thorough examination later and the graft innner most layer is fine. My old cornea at about the 4 O'clock position, these cells that pump water away from the cornea are damaged so making the graft work harder.
Kerasoft is out completely.
No racing, but never give up, after the thread about glasses I put the question, could we make lenses powerful enough to give 6/6 in one eye and best possible in the other. No one has achived this, but never tried at the hiospital!
Left the optom with a new challenge, going to have an appointment in a month or so (just need the date from the hospital) and we will try with glasses.
These would be a complete alternative to the RGP, that are likely to give poor vision immediatly after contact lens wear. However if we can get good vision if I have gone without the RGP's and get a binocular 6/6 then racing is back on.
Pat; I am still on for the display laps at Castle Combe as that is not timed so I am allowed to go on track with RGP's
To recap, this was to have a spare set of lenses if the RGP's were irritable and the bonus would be to get 6/6 vision so that I could start motor racing again!
After several weeks, the pain of the right lens went, this was because the soft lens is much larger than my RGP so something my eye had to get used too. Lens solutions were a problem, but perservering and with a fresh bottle after the hospital one ran out this was no longer an issue. Then started the lens wear build up time.
Several days were taken off from wearing the RGP, plenty of fluids and systane so the eye was properly hydrated and recoverd from RGP lens wear.
1 hour on the first day was fine, second day 2 hours still fine, day three aiming for three hours got to 2 1/2 and things started to fog up. Lens out have a rest and everything had rainbow halos round. I have had this over and over and 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hours is the max which is no good.
New lens had not turned up at the hospital which was a bit of a blessing. Corneal waterlogging risks damaging the innermost layer of my graft. Thorough examination later and the graft innner most layer is fine. My old cornea at about the 4 O'clock position, these cells that pump water away from the cornea are damaged so making the graft work harder.
Kerasoft is out completely.
No racing, but never give up, after the thread about glasses I put the question, could we make lenses powerful enough to give 6/6 in one eye and best possible in the other. No one has achived this, but never tried at the hiospital!
Left the optom with a new challenge, going to have an appointment in a month or so (just need the date from the hospital) and we will try with glasses.
These would be a complete alternative to the RGP, that are likely to give poor vision immediatly after contact lens wear. However if we can get good vision if I have gone without the RGP's and get a binocular 6/6 then racing is back on.
Pat; I am still on for the display laps at Castle Combe as that is not timed so I am allowed to go on track with RGP's
Gareth
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Sweet
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Gareth,
So sorry to hear that the kerasofts didn't go well. I do hope that you can get glasses with good enough vision for you. Let us know how you get on, hehe you always have to try to do one better!!! While you are there can you please poke the nice people in Moorfields who make the lenses as i still need one for my grafted eye!!
So sorry to hear that the kerasofts didn't go well. I do hope that you can get glasses with good enough vision for you. Let us know how you get on, hehe you always have to try to do one better!!! While you are there can you please poke the nice people in Moorfields who make the lenses as i still need one for my grafted eye!!
Sweet X x X
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GarethB
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- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
- Location: Warwickshire
I am lucky to be able to go to a hospital that is willing to constantly challenge the perseved wisdom.
Lens literature says Kerasoft were never going to work, but on the test fit we got 6/6. First proper set were poor, but we again got 6/6 when we looked at improving the vision. Problem came down to the graft more than the kersasoft's abilities to correct vision.
I know there are soft lenses for normal vision that has a higher oxygen transfer. May be when these are available we will have more success. What we did discover is that Kerasoft are worth a try if you are having lens comfort issues or as a first step once glasses are not viable prior to moving to RGP's.
For me the glasses are an unknown quantity when it comes to the hospitals abilities. The perseved wisdom says they will not be good enough. The evidence for me is not there in black and white so I will challenge that wisdom and then the success or failure will then be in black and white.
Being an extreme case I am happy to work with the hospital to help them develop their skills and hopefully that will be passed to other patients and optom that pass through during their training and we will all benefit.
Lens literature says Kerasoft were never going to work, but on the test fit we got 6/6. First proper set were poor, but we again got 6/6 when we looked at improving the vision. Problem came down to the graft more than the kersasoft's abilities to correct vision.
I know there are soft lenses for normal vision that has a higher oxygen transfer. May be when these are available we will have more success. What we did discover is that Kerasoft are worth a try if you are having lens comfort issues or as a first step once glasses are not viable prior to moving to RGP's.
For me the glasses are an unknown quantity when it comes to the hospitals abilities. The perseved wisdom says they will not be good enough. The evidence for me is not there in black and white so I will challenge that wisdom and then the success or failure will then be in black and white.
Being an extreme case I am happy to work with the hospital to help them develop their skills and hopefully that will be passed to other patients and optom that pass through during their training and we will all benefit.
Gareth
Gareth, I have not been on-line much to know this, but i had a quick scan of this tread and wanted to ask if you have tried a Soft K at all... they are meant to be thicker in the center... is there anyway you can try them at all? ...as I know the love of speed well!! (on private land mind you)
And if that does not give you enough correction... would glasses over the top help?
This is something i read on a forum (which means nothing... but could mean something!)
An overseas person uses pupil smallering drops to be able to drive (just to drive)
Its not a recommendation for anyone to try it, as for one thing his friendly chemist dilutes it for him, also you need a prescription as its a medicine, and as a medicine it has side effects.
Also if your eye pressure is of a normal range then its better not to tamper with it (as the drops reduces pressure when its too high, thats what they are for, the pupil getting smaller is a side effect to this). Although I don't know how he gets it from his Chemist... may be the Chemist dilutes it to the right level and knows what he is doing, or his Chemist is brave or a bit "Back Street"!!
Just some thoughts...
And if that does not give you enough correction... would glasses over the top help?
This is something i read on a forum (which means nothing... but could mean something!)
An overseas person uses pupil smallering drops to be able to drive (just to drive)
Its not a recommendation for anyone to try it, as for one thing his friendly chemist dilutes it for him, also you need a prescription as its a medicine, and as a medicine it has side effects.
Also if your eye pressure is of a normal range then its better not to tamper with it (as the drops reduces pressure when its too high, thats what they are for, the pupil getting smaller is a side effect to this). Although I don't know how he gets it from his Chemist... may be the Chemist dilutes it to the right level and knows what he is doing, or his Chemist is brave or a bit "Back Street"!!
Just some thoughts...
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GarethB
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- Joined: Sat 21 Aug 2004 3:31 pm
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
- Location: Warwickshire
Hi Sajeev,
Trying a Soft K uis not an option unless it is available on the NHS and I know my hospital do not do these lenses. We have talked about Kerasoft for over a year on this forum, but it was only late last year they were available at my hospital.
Going to a highstreet optom for these lenses would mean traveling and I do not know anywhere that would do them when I was looking at soft lenses in the first place. Birmingham eye unit may dot hem, but to get reffered would be improper use of the NHS system just so I could race again. I am luccky with what I can see so it would be unfair to make someone who is having problems wait just so I can pursue one part of my life that is still currently closed.
As for the eye drops, sounds dodgy to me so something I would not try or recomend to others either.
Trying a Soft K uis not an option unless it is available on the NHS and I know my hospital do not do these lenses. We have talked about Kerasoft for over a year on this forum, but it was only late last year they were available at my hospital.
Going to a highstreet optom for these lenses would mean traveling and I do not know anywhere that would do them when I was looking at soft lenses in the first place. Birmingham eye unit may dot hem, but to get reffered would be improper use of the NHS system just so I could race again. I am luccky with what I can see so it would be unfair to make someone who is having problems wait just so I can pursue one part of my life that is still currently closed.
As for the eye drops, sounds dodgy to me so something I would not try or recomend to others either.
Gareth
Hi there Gareth,
I just wanted to pass on to you that "Soflex" (the company in Israel who make "Soft K's") will send a fitting set to any Optician that will fit you for one, anywhere!
Its only a few weeks ago a friend in New Zealand was telling me that when he contacted them, he was told that they do indeed still do this, as I heard about it a long time ago when others where writing about their experiance with them.
They have a "data sheet" on their site BTW, which could give you more info.
I know what you mean about the logistics in finding someone near by, but you could just keep it in the back of your mind until you ask around and find a suitable/forthcoming practice.
On another note, which I never get round to saying, is that I thought it was very nice to read what Ali has on his profile ...it says under "Interests"
Soft Lenses!
I just wanted to pass on to you that "Soflex" (the company in Israel who make "Soft K's") will send a fitting set to any Optician that will fit you for one, anywhere!
Its only a few weeks ago a friend in New Zealand was telling me that when he contacted them, he was told that they do indeed still do this, as I heard about it a long time ago when others where writing about their experiance with them.
They have a "data sheet" on their site BTW, which could give you more info.
I know what you mean about the logistics in finding someone near by, but you could just keep it in the back of your mind until you ask around and find a suitable/forthcoming practice.
On another note, which I never get round to saying, is that I thought it was very nice to read what Ali has on his profile ...it says under "Interests"
Soft Lenses!
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