UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello

I am just doing some reading round about maintaining RGP lens. What brand of products do you use? Is there a noticeable difference between p/f saline and standard saline. Do you use an enzymatic cleaner and do you think it makes a difference compared to a regular daily cleaner. Do you prefer to clean them after removing at night or just before inserting in the morning, Any other tips would be super.

Irfan

Hello
Well I have had a bit of a kick up the bum, I was told off last visit for having dirty lenses, I know I was getting lazy at cleaning them so I have now gone the other way.

Every night the lenses get a good minute or two each doing the rub in the palm of the hand. If Im too tired then last option is a morning clean but I prefer last thing at night.

I use cheapo Asda saline solution, Boston cleaner, Boston conditioning solution.
I have tried conditioning solution with built in cleaner but my eyes took an age to focus when I inserted the lenses also I used to use protein tablets but giving the lenses a good palm clean I find no need.

And last but not least I tried the cheap ebay ultra sonic cleaner, pah waste of money I threatened alsorts and got a refund!

Ps about twice a week I rinse my eye's with a cheap eye wash i think its called eye clean, snappy title, and also I use Blephasol to clean my eye lids upper and lower same.

I also use Boston cleaner and Boston conditioning solution (or Boots own brand).

I clean them by rubbing gently for a few seconds between my thumb and forefinger and then rinse with saline. Then soak overnight in the conditioning solution. It is better to clean them after use than before wear because it is a clean lens that is being soaked. In the morning I sometimes rinse them with saline before re-wetting with the conditioning solution to insert in my eyes. I then rinse the case (and its lids) with saline and leave to air dry.

I use protein remover tablets when I remember. Probably about once a month.

Lia

Thanks for the replies.

Lia, did you find a difference with the boots solution compared to the boston brand.

I noticed at my local hospital that they were using irripod irrigation solution to rinse the lens. They come in 20ml vials. Theyd be handy to carry round if need be. Anyone ever tried these?

I also use Blephasol lotion and an eye bag about twice a week.

Irfan

Irfan,

I'm fairly sure that the Boots solutions and the Boston solutions are the same. So the only difference is the price - so I buy which ever is cheaper.

Lia

I use Boston/Boots, hypromellose, hylo-tear and Bausch & Lomb sensitive eyes saline. This saline is more expensive but I find with some of the supermarket saline bottles they are very rigid and half way down I almost end up with repetitive strain injury squeezing it, and the hole is smaller, the stream is harder to see, and often goes off at an angle which I find awkward.
Superdrug do some great handbag size 120 ml size saline £1.99 and they do offers on this sometimes. I use the kleenex Ultra tissues for my eyes and drying out the saline rinsed case because these don't shred, Sainsburys have offers on these from time to time so worth bulk buying when they do.
My top tip would be to flood the eye with hypromellose (you can get that on NHS prescription from your GP) before inserting/removing lens and also when the lens gets lodged at the side or under the lid.