Bitting the Contact lens bullet

[Prue B]

My corneas have been misbehaving for the last 12 months. According to my opthalmologist they are "strugglIng". Basically I have had hazing on and off, due to my epithelial layer not clearing properly. This causes my astigmatism to worsen each time. Both eyes are grafted, 12 and 13 years ago. I was contact lens intolerant prior my grafts, and post graft managed without glasses for about 7 years and with glasses since. I have now gotten to the stage my vision with glasses is failing me. If there is glare around I really cannot read much at all. 5 months ago when I had a real bad haze episode, I could not manage much with glasses at all, my vision has improved since then, but the swelling in my corneas has reduced so this is the best I will get. Strengthening my spec script does not improve my vision much at all. So I rang my opthalmologist and he told me I could wear lenses for up to 8 hours a day on my Right eye, due to residual oedema. I have an appointment tomorrow, they had a cancellation, and I am both scared and excited. Scared due to past failures, so so many of them, and excitment at the hope it will help me put off another graft for a while. My daughter has a nasty astigmatism and we bit the bullet and she wears RGPS, up to 12 hours a day, with few issues, and she is 7, so I figure I may be able to also. Catherine wears Torics.

[Andrew MacLean]

I was contact lens intolerant prior to my grafts, but have managed to wear a lens again since the graft in my left eye has settled: it appears that the new cornea does not have the same sensitivity as the old one.

Andrew