Advice for first contact lenses after glasses?(And post CXL)

[Prism]

Hi, looks pretty quiet on here so not sure I'll get a reply in time! I had Crosslinking in both eyes a few months ago at Moorfields. All went fine although now regularly wake to uncomfortable dry eyes. Any of you out there who have had the procedure, is it normal to get dry eyes like this? Still taking artificial tears morning and night.

So to the main issue, I've been managing with glasses but would like the option for contacts. Given that I'm using glasses I thought I should be ok with regular contacts, right? How do you go about that, go for a eye test and order lenses at the opticians as in for glasses? Or wondering if I should phone the Moorfields switchboard, not sure how helpful they would be or just book me in for an appointment in a few months which will be too late!

Thanks!

[CrippsCorner]

Go via the NHS for contacts. I started off going privately, then found out the price... £465 including all fitting costs and the contacts themselves. NHS charge £108 (per year) so it's a no-brainer imo.

If you're using glasses atm it would suggest your keratoconus is not particularly advanced, so you should be fine with regular contacts. I use a regular contact in my good eye, and a specialist astigmatism contact (though not keratoconus specific) in my bad eye. Funnily enough, I was just thinking today that after CXL I'm finding the contacts a huge improvement over my glasses, which I didn't find beforehand... I wonder why that is, although it should be noted my eye is still recovering.

[Prism]

Thanks Cripps. Interestingly, we're the same age. Did you have crosslinking this year as well? I will look at that NHS option, far beats the private! Especially considering they'll be the first contacts I've had. Yeah my eyes arent so advanced but on the edge of needing rigid contacts I think. Well, one is anyway.

[Prism]

Also, stupid question, where/how do you get NHS contacts? Cheers

[CrippsCorner]

Not sure of the normal way lol...

I actually had an issue to begin with because the first consultant I saw said I don't need contacts, or CXL, and just to carry on wearing glasses (thanks, you ruined my vision forever) so I went off looking to get contacts privately. As I said, when I found out the price I wasn't happy so I went back to the hospital. Thing is, I work in another department right opposite so had my badge on etc. which probably gave me some kind of authority when I walked in there demanding to talk to a manager.

They listened and gave me an appointment and it went on from there. So, I would either just go to the eye unit at your local hospital and ask them what to do, or ask for a referral from your GP. I know everyone's different but let me tell you now, RGP's are absolutely horrible. I tried them for a while but two things really put me off (not including the discomfort) firstly driving at night is absolutely, fundamentally impossible. Very scary experience indeed. Secondly, you cannot simply take your RGP's out and put your glasses on for a rest, it took my eyes about 5 hours to recover each time, so I was basically blind for half my evening. With soft contacts the change to glasses is almost unnoticeable. My keratoconus is officially labelled as 'moderate' perhaps the same as yours, and I find the vision difference between RGP's and soft contacts very minimal anyway. Personally, going by what you've said I would try soft contacts first...

If it's any help to you the name and prescription of mine are:

Left eye (better) - Biofinity Toric -0.00 / -2.25 x 060
Right eye (worse) - Clariti XR Toric +1.00 / -4.25 x 110

I had my first CXL at the end of June, and plan to have my second one at the end of September, funnily enough they strongly recommended not doing both at the same time, but there you go.

[kieran19685]

Hi

Its very quiet on here so i thought i would post as well

I have an appointment for a consultation for cross linking in september, could you tell me what happens next? can i then arrange for the procedure to be done if they are happy i am eligible?

RGP's seem good for me, good comfort but i wouldnt mind wearing soft contacts in the future

[CrippsCorner]

Have you already tried soft contacts or not?

If you're going for CXL via the NHS they won't do it until they see 6 months worth of progression... if you go privately, you get them to send the CT scans to the hospital you're going to and they should accept to go ahead without too much bother, (probably just an initial meeting) I was actually seen by my NHS consultant as he does private procedures as well.

[Prism]

Cripps - Thanks for the info. Yeah, similar to me, they monitored for ages then finally said I was going to be having crosslinking. Seems as though it should have happened a few years back. Yeah, all the patients in my group at Moorfields were treated both eyes at once, I asked them about this before saying what you have said which I had read online that people seem to have a months between the procedures. But oh well, glad to have had them out the way now. RGPs seem to be a no go for me, I get allergies so want to steer clear from any irritant to the eye. I'll try and figure out how to get advice from Moorfields RE the contacts I think!

Kieran - Most likely varies depending on your hospital/eye doctor. I think, generally, you get the consultation and they see if you have progressed in the time which allows them to judge whether you are eligible for the procedure. You'll likely know if it's progressed thought right? Others here may be able to advise more specifically though.

[Prism]

I say both eyes at once, I mean a week in between each.

[kieran19685]

I notice we are all around the same age 29?

i have an appointment with a private hospital cross linking is £1200 which is the cheapest i have found. The hospital said that my good eye hasnt progressed in 2 years but my left is soo bad that i need to do something to stop it getting worst.

getting bottom line on the chart with RGP's but suffer with dry eyes.

Never tried soft lens, apart from a no prescription soft lens when i tried piggybacking