UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I am now one week into my first pair od RGP lenses and as I mentioned on another thread, I believe these will need to be changed slightly before I can say I am truely happy with them. What I would like to know though is how much of a change can be made and what other people have experienced.

Pressumably its not a one chance procedure and changes can be made to the lens fitting to remove more 'ghosting'? If this is the case, how come they aren't correct from the initial test and fitting?

Has anyone else fitted for RGP's had to go back and get new ones after a fortnight and if so did the 2nd fitting sort it all out or was it a work in progress?

Cheers, Barry.

Sorry Barry
I have had new lenses fitted every three months and some times even closer. I am on my third set of lenses in the last six weeks and go for a refit next week. I do get good vision eack time they tweek the lenses but the comfort fit has changed by the next time I go. Not that I notice it is only whent the check with the slit lamp. I know a fourth set is on the horizon as They need tweeking for the computer.
Hang on in there I have lost count of how many sets of lenese I have had over the last three years but I know they are trying there best to get the nearest to good vision for me and my family.
jojo

Hi Barry,
I'm sure any optom who posts here will tell you that fitting lenses for KC is very often 'work in progress'. KC eyes are notoriously difficult to fit and we've had several talks at meetings and conferences over the years where optometrists have told us about how they have to try to get a balance between the best possible vision and the best possible fit for comfort and for the health of the cornea. So anyone being fitted for the first time is likely to find that the lenses need 'tweaking' sometimes once and sometimes more than once. After that, it depends on whether the KC stays relatively stable or whether it carries on changing. With luck, once you've got the right lenses, they won't need changing too often. But you'll be monitored every 6 mths or every year to check whether things have changed and whether the prescription needs to be altered. If you'd like our information booklet about KC and the DVD of our 2009 conference which included a very good talk on contact lenses, just e-mail your postal address to anne@keratoconus.group.org.uk and I'll send them to you.
All the best
Anne

Thanks for the replies, I'm learning about my condition and the treatments all the time so this information is all good to read.

Anne: I shall send you my details as you mention, the booklet and DVD sound like just what I need. Thanks again.

Taking all the information you have given me, leads me to my next question (unfortunately )
When is the best time for me to go back to my optician to get fitted for glasses that will be worn, in the main, after a days use of lenses? I had intended to wait until my lenses were finalised, but that now looks like it could be anytime. The quicker the better as far as I'm concerned as my current glasses are worse than useless after I've had my lenses in. But, I don't want to jump in and get glasses that will be no good a couple of month down the line through a change in my lens prescription.

Barry.

I can't really answer that one, Barry, though I know how expensive changes in spectacle prescriptions can be! So if you can hold off until your current lenses have been tweaked and you're happy with them, it would probably be cheaper. Hopefully you'll then not have a change in prescription for a while.
Anne

Hi Barry
just a little note with regards as to buying your glasses.I got a little fed up with paying out all the time for glasses and hospital payments for lenses however my hospital does pay for all solutions. My glasses changed so much that I then had to find the cheepest way to replace them. I found a frame I liked in a shop then went on line to buy from the well known auction site. I then took the frames to vision express and asked for the cheepest lenses with out any coatings just basic. I did this as I only use glasses for in the house and if I have a flare up but even then they get ditched as they are perfect for nothing. Its just finding what fits in with you, family, job and budget as KC likes to hold the keys.... But you can stay boss.
jojo

Hi Barry,

How many lens fittings? Lots. It's something one just has to get used to.

My right eye has had nine refits in the last couple of years; and I'm wearing the second as the others are either comfortable with poor vision or excellent vision and uncomfortable. So I guess it's another refit for me next month. As Anne says it's very much a case of 'work in progress'.

Lia

Wow, eh, ok, I had no idea it was going to be such a complicated issue. Looks like I'm going to be keeping the specialist busy for a while.

Thanks to everyone for their input, its much appreciated.

Onwards and upwards!

Yes lots is the answer im afraid. Its often a delicate balance between fit, comfort and vision.
Im on my 3rd set this year