UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello

I use a scleral lens in one eye.

When putting the lens on I always seem to end up with a small bubble and sometimes have to have 2 or 3 attempts before I do which becomes really annoying.

Its worse when a bubble appears a little while later and I have to take it out again. This seems to happen more if Im doing something really physical or if I accidently touch my eye or face.

Is this a common problem?

What do other scleral users do to minimise air bubbles, especially when putting in the lens. Also how long do you normally go before a bubble appears. Any tips?

Thanks

The problem you describe is quite common.

Resolving the issue ranges from being almost bent double over the sink to hanging off the edge of the bed with the lens stuff on the floor.

I will let the scleral wearers give their techneques but if you use the forum search facility for Sclerals you will find different posts on how to put them in.

Hi Someperson,

I know what you mean about air bubbles, they can be really annoying. My way of inserting them is leaning over the bathtub. That way you can get your body and head level. (like a 90 degress angle)

Also try and relax when you insert it, as being anxious doesnt help.

Hi Someperson

I have had my scleral lenses now for approx 4 years and I can still get air bubbles when I put them in!

I have found that the more I worry about it or hope it won't happen the more it does. So after much worry and fretting I now just stand leaning over the bathroom sink and try to hold them as strainght and still as I can and pop them in. If I get a bubble out they come and I just sometimes (well quite often really especially if I am in a rush, late or going somewhere special) have to sit down and take a deep breath.

Practice makes perfect so they say!

best wishes, take care

Susan

Hi there!

This was sadly one of the reasons why I stopped wearing them. I tried for about a month and was really patient but I always got a bubble no matter what I did! It was so dam frustrating!!! My vision was not brilliant with them so I decided to let it go and now piggy back instead which is ten thousand times better for me!!!!

I started piggy backing a couple of months ago now and get air bubbles.
Sweet - did you ever experience this?
I feel like my vision was much more consistent when I wore the RGPs on their own, but it's just too painful.
It seems almost as if there's some kind of glare that I see coming off the soft lens (although I think this is all part of the air bubble problem my optometrist mentioned).

Hi I have been wearing sclerals in both eyes for about 6 years now and still get air bubbles. Sometimes I can get them in first time ok and they last all day but I only have to touch my face around the eye area and it seems to break the seal and air bubbles appear. On other days, from the moment I get up to the moment I take them out I have constant air bubbles all day and have to frequently take them out and re-insert them. Its a real pain but sclerals are the only real lens option for me.

girlypants: Welcome to the forum.

someperson: You are welcome too!

I guess airbubbles are a universal problem with scleral wearers. My strategy was to fill completely the crucible of the lens, and hold it so that no saline was spilling. I'd then look directly down into the brim-full lens and lower my eye into it as if I was using an eyebath.

Then, as my eye touched the saline I'd reach over and pull up my upper eyelit, tucking the top edge of the lens under it. Then I'd draw down the lower eyelid so that the lens slipped under it, too.

I had a little fenestration just beside the cornea so when I blinked for the first time after inserting a lens a little fountain of saline would be forced out. If I was careful I could sometimes manage to spray someone with saline and then look all innocent when they asked if it was raining

Andrew

Hi Andrew, thanks for your welcome

Cool trick with the fenestration! I would love to be able to do that. My party trick is that when I have my sclerals in I can curl my bottom eyelids inwards just from looking down I also like to stick a plunger to them too I have to make light of this horrible condition or it will drive me mad.

Thanks again, its nice to meet you.

girlypants

The plunger trick would really freak people out! A bit like tapping your scleral with a pencil. Of coursel opnce people know that you are wearing a huge contact lens the fun goes out of all these little tricks.

Still, as you say, we've got to have some fun with KC or we'd all become very dull indeed!

Andrew