Glasses-RGP combo?

[Clare]

Hello

I am one of those Keratoconus sufferers that has not yet managed to find a method of visual correction that works for me. When I wear glasses I get better vision through my right eye and when I wear RGP lenses I get good vision through my left eye (despite seeing a number of specialists, I've never managed to conquer both eyes at once!) However, this gave me the idea of wearing a pair of glasses, with no prescription on one side, so as to to be able to wear an RGP in that eye. I imagined that I would then get the best possible overall level of vision. I tried this out for the first time yesterday by popping a lens out of an old pair of glasses. I can't say it was an instant success as when I moved my head I would see double, but I know it's often the case that such things just take some getting used to.

Has anyone else tried this or know anyone that has? I'd love to know if it could be worth persevering with.

Thanks in advance,

Clare

[mattcox]

I have tried this with a lens in my left eye (giving me good vision) and glasses for my right eye, which has been grafted and can't tolerate a lens. My overall vision was improved, but the prescription required by my right eye was such that it made me feel quite sick and I couldn't cope with it while moving around. It was useful for watching tv or reading though.

I'd say it is definitely worth persevering with, and if it works for you then great! If not then you haven't lost anything, except maybe the cost of the glasses prescription. My NHS optician made me up glasses for free so maybe this is an option to allow you to trial things?

[jay87]

Yes,

I too have had an overrefraction which is basically an eye test with lens in or one lens in.

They are good if you would like to see, as you say, you would like to see if you can get better vision with lenses and glasses over.

I found not much difference.

I went to TESCO, free eye test, and it brought me down it -1.00 and -1.25 diopters so i only bought £15 glasses! total cost of 15 i didnt think was bad.

As you can see from my sig i am -4.75 Left eye-9.25 Right eye Specs, so they would have had to be ultra thinned and usually cost me £200

I use my NHS optical voucher towards my RoseK2s which are FAB btw.

I used them for VDU/PC work as i still zoom in, even with RGPS in.

Hope this helps ,

Many Thanks,

Jake.

x

[Lia Williams]

Hi Clare,

However, this gave me the idea of wearing a pair of glasses, with no prescription on one side, so as to to be able to wear an RGP in that eye. I imagined that I would then get the best possible overall level of vision.

Yes, there are people who wear glasses over contact lenses to correct their vision. Typically this is when presbyopia starts and reading glasses are required. However I have met some people with KC who do wear glasses over contact lenses to fully correct their distance vision.

If you are fairly shortsighted you may need a different contact lens with a weaker lens in your left eye and have glasses with a prescription in both eyes. This is because things appear smaller with a -ve lens in glasses than they do in contact lenses and the brain may find it difficult to cope with different sized images. That said I have met people with obviously wildly different prescriptions in their glasses and it it works for them.

So do ask at your next appointment if a glasses and contact lens combination could work for you.

Do let us know how you get on.

Lia

[jay87]

Oh also I used the glasses over RGPs to help with night driving halos and glare x

[Clare]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with this, I'm very encouraged to hear that other people have managed to make the lens-glasses combo work.

I'll certainly try it in front of the TV Matt, movement with this set-up is what flaws me at the moment too.

Also Jake & Lia, I hadn't thought to wear both lenses and glasses at once, this might be worth exploring next, especially if it can bring down the cost of glasses. Its good to understand a bit of the reasoning behind things at last.

Thanks again!
Clare

[CrippsCorner]

I have tried this with a lens in my left eye (giving me good vision) and glasses for my right eye, which has been grafted and can't tolerate a lens. My overall vision was improved, but the prescription required by my right eye was such that it made me feel quite sick and I couldn't cope with it while moving around. It was useful for watching tv or reading though.

I'd say it is definitely worth persevering with, and if it works for you then great! If not then you haven't lost anything, except maybe the cost of the glasses prescription. My NHS optician made me up glasses for free so maybe this is an option to allow you to trial things?

How long did you persevere with it? My last prescription made me feel sick for months! But eventually I've come round to it... it's certainly not perfect, but I don't think any of us can hope for that.

[Clare]

For me I can't say I persevered for very long, after a few days wear I thought I'd best check with the KC family to see if it was worth sticking with. So I've still got a long way to go in terms of adjustment.