Contact lenses causing scratches

[Sweet]

Hey there Elizabeth and welcome to the forum!

Sadly scratches can happen and it can be caused by badly fitted lenses or in how we take them in and out. I had seven months off work last year as a few abrasions got infected and turned into ulcers. A really bad time.

Taking lenses out when we are in pain is certainly the best advice. I had to tape my eyelid shut for a while last summer as everytime i blinked i was damaging the new cells on the surface. Your optometrist can give you the best advice.

Hoping that you are better soon and you post back! Take care

Sweet X x X

[denner]

Its the reason I cant wear a len on my right eye.Dr told me it would lead to scarring of the cornea which would make a future graft harder to do.

[John Smith]

Hi Denner,

That's really strange saying that a scar would make a graft more difficult... as having a scar is one of the main reasons WHY WE DO go for grafts; because contact lenses cannot make you see through a scar!

What does make a graft more difficult is the onset of blood vessels towards the cornea - which are often brought on by overwear of contact lenses. Could your consultant have meant that?

[denner]

Hi John
Just going on what the Dr at Bristol Eye Hospital told me.Me KC is a more rare kind because the cone is very low down on the Cornea(what they call a beer belly affect) so maybe the point of scarring is along the line where a graft would be done.Anyway I have been told not to wear a hard len,I was using a oversize hard lens to bridge the low cone a normal size hard len would just blink straight out.This is why I cant go to work ,Drive see etc I have a hard lens with a soft lens skirt but this is very uncomfortable.

[Sweet]

Hey there! Was just wondering if you have tried piggy backing as hard lenses stay in better with a soft one underneath?

Sweet X x X

[denner]

I keep hearing about piggyback lens, Is that what they are soft lenses with hard ones on top? Is this comfortable?

[Sweet]

Yes it is where you have a plain soft lens underneath and a hard lens on top. I have been wearing them for the past six months and get on really well with them. Before i would struggle to get five hours before the lens would start hurting, now i can easily make fifteen hours.

I do take them out though for one day a week as soft lenses do not let as much oxygen through to your eye so optoms do worry about piggy backing. You are also advised to have monthly and not daily soft lenses for this reason.

Some people do not get on with them but it is always worth a try! I find that i can't feel my RGP lens at all and if they start to dry out some eyedrops hydrate the soft lens and it is all fine!

Sweet X x X

[denner]

Thanks Sweet,
Sounds really good, Fifteen hours a day is great.