UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi,

I have had sclerals since the beginning of the year, should have been earlier but the blooming things did not fit ( I could not shut my eyes). Has anyone got any tips for taking them out. They seem to fit so snug that even when I "break the seal" I still can not use the sucker. I have to get my thumb nail under the bottom of the lens and flick it out. Whereas this has not caused me a problem as of yet, apart from the hospital bods going a funny colour, I am sure it is not the best way! Anyone any suggestions. Jan

Well I certainly can't remove sclerals without the rubber sucker. The technique I use is to stick the sucker ABOVE the corneal bulge, and then to gently wiggle the lens around in an attempt to rotate it. The suction is soon broken, and as long as I am pulling the upper eyelid wide open, the lens just hinges out.

Any other wacky (or even sensible!) suggestions?

I'm notorious at losing the suckers and they lose their suction pretty quicky in my experience.

I'm sure I had a leaflet from Moorfields which described sticking your finger towards the inside of the eye, over the lid and dragging the finger to the outside of the eye. This breks the suction and it falls out easily.....according to the leaflet.

Suffice to say I need a lot of practice with this method.

What the leaflet means is that you are pulling the bottom lid down, holding the lid margin, and pushing it under the bottom edge of the lens. You then slide the finger along to the outer edge of the eye. This should then pop th elens out...

Easier said than done though I know!!

Lynn

Ok, I know I've (almost) never been able to do this.

Does anyone remove a scleral lens without the little sucker? Could they point a video camera at their eye whilst doing it? An instructional video would certainly help me, any maybe some others too!

Well .... not too sure about the video camera bit however, I do manage to remove my scleral lenses without any aid from the sucker.

When I first got them I too received the leaflet with the instructions about nasal and temple etc etc however at first try found this quite impossible.

What they suggested to me at the hospital was that I run my finger index lightly over my top eye lid from nose to temple, and then flick the lens out.
With a little practice what I found was if I look/glance downwards whilst still holding my head up, run my index finger lightly over my top eye lid to feel where the lens edge is and then at the same time, gently stretch/tighten the upper lid the lens will then quite easily pop out and I can catch it with my hand.

I am not sure if this is the opposite way to that described in the guidance leaflet, however it works for me and the hospital seem ok with it.

I have only once or twice had any problems and that has been after overwearing the lens or my eyes drying up a lot and what I have then done first is poured some saline into my eye, and all down my front as well, such a messy thing to do.

Practice I think is the key here.

best wishes

Susan

Susan..

hehe this is the opposite of the "official" way but can work equally as well..

Basically.. you need to break the suction and then flick it out with either the top or bottom lid....

'Course... it might be easier to be beamed up to the Starship Enterprise, travel to a gas giant, lean out of the window and let gravity suck it out...!!

Lynn

Well I might have know I would be the odd one, doing it the opposite way to that recommended.

However, it works for me and so far just over 2 years wear and no need to use the little plunger.

I am sure they already think I am very odd at the hospital and so they are probably just glad I get them out.

I have already worked my way through 2 of the optometrists and am currently stressing the 3rd not sure how many more to go!

Susan

This is how I do/did them

Put your index finger infront of the eye
Using the tip of the finger slide the upper lid up
The finger will now be touching the scleral...

in one swipe..lift up find the top of the scleral and flick forword..whilst looking down

Ta daaaaaaaaaa!

I have just been put onto scleral lenses as a last resort. RGP and piggyback lenses no good for me after 1 and a half years of trying.
The way i have been shown to remove them is by opening your eye (staring) downwards to the floor and then with your index finger, on same side as lens to be removed, place finger on the cover of the scleral lens and move this up with your eyelid until you can feel the edge of the lens in the top of your eye. Keep looking down all the time - very important makes it a lot easier. Then move your finger around to the outside of your eye (anti-clockwise for left and clockwise for right) and lens should feel looser and drop out with a blink. The trick is to make sure you can feel the top edge of the lens and keep looking down and they usually fly out. Don't try and close your eye until they are removed or believe me its not nice.