UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Had my first contact lens app at Moorfields last week after switching hospitals, they want to wean me off my piggybacks and back onto straight RGPs....

I moved onto piggybacking as straight RGPs were pretty intolerable, i also ended up with quite a bit of scarring, however they seem confident that slowly building up wear time should do me good even though i remain v sceptical. Anyone followed this route? I'd just like to be able to see for 12-14 hours a day without pain, not really been possible the last 2 years.

Not got my follow up now till the start of December!!

I am not sure that I understand what they are doing, but it may be that the double layer lens is denying your cornea oxygen. Did they say anything about vascularization?

I wonder whether they are thinking about a different sort of rigid lens, such as SO2 Clear or sclerals?

Andrew

Hi

I am thinking of trying to get them to let me try piggy backing. I wear RGP's and have been going through hell over the last six monhs with the same issues you have. I have got an appointment tomorrow for them to review the fit\power of the lenses they provided 4 weeks ago (rubbish on both counts). I'll let you know what they come up with.

Like Andrew I would imagine it the oxygen issue and the resulting vascularization which could make a graft more difficult if one is required in the future.

Ian

They haven't mentioned vascularization, infact no real comments on increased blood vessels etc due to piggybacks, just seems they dont like piggybacking so want me to just start afresh with RGPs

A four month wait till next check up seems pretty long though before i can see them again!

Ian - i pushed for piggybacks with my last optomotrist, it really did help for a good long while,, so much more comfortable, gd luck with your attempt!

At the conference in Glasgow the optometrist who provides the NHS service under contract to Edinburgh Eye Pavilion spoke very highly of piggy backing. Isn't it odd how one optometrist's preferred option can be such an anathema to another.

Andrew

It might also be due to hospital funding, I always thought moorfields provided the soft lens as a daily disposable free of charge.

Never tried piggybacking, instead went straight to soft lenses for KC and that was the best decision I ever made, cheaper lens maintenance costs to me, fewer visits to the hospital, better vision than I got with RGP's and wear times of all my waking hours.

This week is the first time I have found the lenses uncomfortable when taking them out which has coincided with the worst cold I have had in I think the past 10 years. With my RGP's, as soon as my sinuses became inflamed, lens wear was intolerable. As I can see, I've been going to work as normal.

Moorfileds also fit the soft lenses designed for KC, so still an option to try if goimg back to straight RGP's doesn't work out.

Hope you find a lens that works for you soon.

BurnTheAction wrote:They haven't mentioned vascularization, infact no real comments on increased blood vessels etc due to piggybacks, just seems they dont like piggybacking so want me to just start afresh with RGPs

A four month wait till next check up seems pretty long though before i can see them again!

Ian - i pushed for piggybacks with my last optomotrist, it really did help for a good long while,, so much more comfortable, gd luck with your attempt!

Well i had my appointment today at the hospital. Piggybacking was mentioned as an option without me bringing the subject up. The issue I had with the new right lens was that when they made it to the correct power it was heavier than the trial lens so was dropping. i suggested PB my old lens and she said why not . She tried some of the soft lenses she had in but the edges where wrinkled, fluted is the term she used. This means that they would A) effect the fit and B) dry out.

So I am back to my old lenses (they sent both the new ones back, so I assume they dont have to pay for them). I have an appointment in 3 weeks to collect some more new lens (RGP). in the meantime she is looking at what soft lenses are available for the PB option.

I didnt get the impression that cost is an issue. We also spoke about Sclreals and Soft IC lenses (and the G word). The only downside is they don't carry trial lenses in and so they would have to order them in. She (Venessa) also mention that they can get the manuafacturer in to fit specialist lenses if required. I asked if they had to apply for funding and she said not

So in summary I think it's down to who you get at the time. I just hope I can keep the appointments to this one fitter as she took the time to explain things and think things through.

Worth putting up a fight to keep your little piggies

Best of luck and keep us updated
Ian

hi all,
I also had a similar probelm with the soft lens 'rippling' on the edges. it happened when my cone increased. the old 'Acuvue oaysys' was too stiff and couldn't follow the steeper curve. My optom changed me onto a more 'floppy' lens which is much harder to put in and tends to turn inside out when handling, but the problem went away immediately. I will get the spec for you guys and give it to you tomorrow.
still happily getting 18 hours a day out of my piggys

Bausch & Lomb 'soflens 38' polymacon
that's the lens i have been using under my RGP- it is floppier than the one i as using before

This is very interesting.
I attend the Contact Lens Clinic at Moorfields and was put into piggybacking mode when for some reason I found new rgp's intolerable following cataract operations; I found this a little strange as my original lenses felt comfortable although I could no longer see out of them.
I have had no problems at all with piggybacking and haven't had any dust in my eyes since day one, a real bonus, and also no further scarring.
I did try to suggest I would like to try going back to rgp's only but received little encouragement to try this.
Success in this directon would certainly have been cost effective!