Still having problems

[Dolphin]

Hi all,

As you may be aware I have been having problems with my eyes and scleral lenses. After having two weeks of problems I was finaly able to start wearing my lenses again. I have ben wearing them for about 10 days now and blow me down one of my eyes has become very sore again.

I am not sure why this is happening and I dont seem to be getting any support from the Medical side as to why keeps happening. I am feeling really down about this, as apart from giving up with the lenses I am not sure what else to do. I asked my consultant if there are any other lenses that I could try and he said that there wasn't. I am not sure why he won't try me with new lenses as there must be some new ones on the market since I got these 7 years ago.

Again this has happened at the worst time as I get th results of my finals today and if I pass I start my new job as a staff nurse on Monday. This is meant to be a really exciting time for me but I just feel like giving up so I wont have to go through the embarrassement of having to explain that I am unable to start my new job on my first day. I am not actually sure where I stand legally with this as I have not signed my contract yet which needs to be handed in today.

I am really sorry for such a depressing message, I just needed to vent to people who have some understanding of what I am going through.

Dolphin

[GarethB]

Dolphin,

Is it possible you are sensitive to the lens material?

Rosemary I think still uses the PMMA scleral which isn't gas permiable as I think she is sensative to the RGP material. She will correct me if I am wrong. Thee are also people who wear a soft lens (no power) with an RGP or Scleral on top to get more comfort.

In the past 7 years ther have been a few new lenses for KC and although it depends on the severity of your KC you could well be wrong for your optom to right of a particular lens option without trying you first. As I've stated on an earlier thread I have made my optoms try a lens they said will not work and in most cases proved them wrong. They were sceptical that I would ever be able to use a sof lens which I have now been using successfulyy for nearly six months.

Perserverance is what is called for I think.

Good luck with the results of your finals.

[Loopy-Lou]

I feel for you, I remember when I had allergic reactions to solutions and difficulty with lenses it depressed me big time, the endless trying something-problem-leaving out-try again routine is very wearing especially when so much rides on it. Never worry about your posts being depressing, this is what this forum is for, for listening to the hard times as well the successes. The only way we can cope with the hard times is by voicing it and letting it out, so you feel free to vent Dolphin.
Maybe think about asking for a 2nd opinion?

[Andrew MacLean]

Dolphin

Keep going back to your optometrist: ask about kerasoft 3 and other new lenses.

Let us know how you get on with your new job; and well done on the completion of your course.

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

Really sorry to hear you're having these problems.
First: nope, not me with allergies tot he RGP polymers. I've had the RGP sclerals for several years now and no problems. Not witht he plastic, anyway.
You say the medical people aren't very sympathetic. Can you go back to your lens fitter? Have you done? What does he (?) say??
I generally find that the lens peopel are more human, and more understanding, than the medics, on the whole.....
Strikes me the fitter is the first port of call - may be able to spot if there is a problem with the fit, or if the lens is has got scratched or something.
Sorry if this has been covered - is it possible you have an allergy to one of the solutions? Is it also possible it is just the hay fever season hotting up?? (I never knew I had hay fever till I started wearing sclerals. Start of pollen season, eyes went red, mum dragged me off to GP who said "conjunctivitis" as GPs always do and prescribed antibiotic eyedrops which did absolutely nothing. By good fortune had appointment with lens fitter the next week who said "DO you get hay fever? No? Ah, well, you do now.")
I hope the Finals results are all you hoped they'd be, if not better! - and that the new job works out fine. You deserve a good break.
Rosemary

[dazzabee]

As a recent wearer of sclerlal lenses I would echo Gareth's line - perseverance is definitely the key.

I have found that if I leave the lens in for a minute or two longer than it should be (i.e. decided to keep wearing it even if my eye started to feel a bit sore, vision went a little misty and / or eyes started to feel very dry) then the next day my wear time would decrease significantly.

I now find that if treat the lenses with respect, i.e. take them out pretty much as soon as they tell me they have had enough, then gradually day by day my wear time improves. I tend to take my lenses out after 5 or so hours, whether I am having problems or not, give my eyes a 20 or so minute rest and then having given the lenses a good clean put them back in for further 5 or so hours use.

Do check with your fitter that things are ok in terms of size and fit, but also remember that like a new pair of shoes, new lenses take time to wear in.

Jay

[Dolphin]

Thanks for all the advice

Rosemary, you are right my lens fitter is more sympathetic and is the best consultant that i have seen. However, it is the specialist that has told me that there are no new lenses for me to try. I think this could possibly have something to do with the distance i have to travel. As we are all aware having new lenses fitted can take a few months to get right, so traveling so far to have a new type of lens fitted is not really an option. I am currently waiting for more new sclerals but the last 2 pairs that i was tried with were not giving as good a vission as the ones I have, which meant i was unable to drive.

I have had these sclerals for about 7 years now and for most of that time up untill about a year ago they have been fine. I was wondering if i was having these problems due to the lenses degrading. I have not changed any solutions so it can't be that. I think I am more worried that my eyes are getting to the stage that they can no longer tolerate sclerals, and being told there are no other options is rather worrying.

With all this said I am trying to stay possitive. I also passed my finals with flying colours and am looking forward to starting my new job as a staff nurse on Monday. I will just have to deal with any problems as they arrise.

Thanks
Dolphin

[Loopy-Lou]

Well done on passing, have a good day Monday!

You haven't been grafted yet? If so, *if* lenses were no longer viable and that's certainly not ruled out yet, then maybe consider asking the ophthalmologist about grafting

[rosemary johnson]

Well done on your exam results!!!!
great news.
Best wishes for MOnday - hope the new job goes well.
I suppose it's possible for a lens to degrade - but I've had the one in my left eye far longer than 7 years and it's still going strong..... I presume it is an RGP one? (ie. a scleral made of RGP plastic)
More likely either your eyes are changing shape or are getting more intolerant to something that was OK.
I suppose it's even possible the stress of doing finals may have affected them, and when you're settled in the new job they'll calm down. Well, let's hope so!
Incidentally, you haven't exhausted all possibilities till you've tried piggybacking with sclerals! - I've been doing that becaue I get the best result with a central contact zone (ie. where the scleral touches the cornea) that is far more than any text book says should happen. This was Ok with PMMA (Perspex) but not the RGO materials as, at the microscopic scale, the surface is "rougher" and more irritating, so started piggybacking, so I could have the contact zone and the comfort, and that was much better.
Hope you get something sorted out soon.
Rosemary