UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hey people,

Well had a fun few days...popped my contact in on sunday morning as normal, lasted about an hour then felt like my eye was going to explode, crying like a baby n couldn't open my eye for the pain

so took it out n thought that would be the end of it, oh no - 5 more times it happened during the day for no apparent reason thought i'd be best to get it check it...

went to the eye casualty at gartnavel first thing on monday morning and its a corneal abrasion...got chloramphenicol ointment to sort it out, stuff is like vaseline...in my eye

anyways, been told to keep my lens out and use the drops for a week to hopefully clear it up...any recommendations on how I should reintroduce my eye to the contact or can I just resume as normal after 7 days are up?

thanks
- adam

I've had that and the ointment, it ain't nice at all. It did clear up for me though and I hope it should do for you too.

Just take it easy on reintroducing the lens, maybe build up wear time gradually.

Hope it works out.

Matt

adam

I am afraid that corneal abrasions are part of the luggage that goes with keratoconus. Chloramphenicol is the standard treatment, although I could never cope with the ointment and got the liquid drops.

Andrew

Sorry Adam. I also know all about those corneal abrasions. The trick is not to put your lens back before the abrasion is well healed. Follow doctors directions on this one- but I had so many that I eventually got used to judging it. Usually I would wait an extra day after the pain had gone away. If it isnt properly healed the contact will cause the abrasion again and that kind of damage causes scars.

Hi Adam,

The cornea is strange when it comes to healing. The healing surface cells don't bed down very quickly and are very easily "knocked off" when you put your lens back in. Once you have finished with your chloramphenicol, make sure you use lubricating drops lavishly, especially before and after sleep. Build your wear up gradually (no more than 4 hours first time) and make sure you put lubricating drops in before you insert the lens and before removal. Any discomfort, take out straight away. Within a couple of days you should be fine, but beware, you can disturb the healed area and end back at square one if you are not careful!