2nd Day in RGP's....questions

[timtim]

I got my first pair or RGP's yesterday...I apologize in advance because I'm sure these questions have been asked a million times, but I want to specifically describe my situation so far.

The left eye (my bad eye) seems to be fit pretty well. I have the best vision I've had in a long time out of it, minimal discomfort, and the only time it seems to slide around is when I blink with a fair amount of force.

My right lens, on the other hand, slides off of my eye everytime I blink (even lightly). It basically blurs for a second everytime I blink. Its very disorienting and I am finding it hard to concentrate already. I looked in the mirror this morning, and I could actually see that lens sliding on my eye after every blink. Also, that lens has a black dot on it to differentiate it from the left, and that dot would rotate like the hand of a clock with every blink. The right lens is also more painful than the left. I am experiencing some discomfort, although it is getting a little better.

I am only on the second day of wear (was able to stand them for about 4 hours yesterday). Shooting for 5 hours to day, as my doc requested.

So I am wondering, Is this a sure sign that the fit is not quite right? Does this sliding of the lens ever go away as you adapt to the lenses? I have a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks, and will definitely be telling him everything I have experienced. Until then, if the sliding continues, should I even keep wearing them? I am not sure if this could harm my eye, plus its just a disorienting feeling.

Thanks for the help

[David Bennett]

Sounds as if the fitting is not quite spot on...
I'd pop back to the prescriber asap and get him/her to have quick look at it. They'll know what to do!

Good luck

David

[GarethB]

From a patient perspective and I am sure David wont mind

My right eye did as you describe Tim, but as the lens wear time built up the movement stopped and I am on the same lenses three years on and also no KC progression.

I know you are not UK based, but after getting my lenses I had a followup check 4 weeks later by which time the movement was minimal and the fit was considerd OK.

My experience showed that things settled as lens wear built up.

Do you have a follow up date to check the lens fit?

It is quite normal to have more than one fitting to fine tune the lens so you may well have to go back as David says.

[timtim]

Yes, I do have a follow-up appointment set for September 4th. I will see how things go until then, and see how they settle. Its good to hear that you had a similar situation, GarethB, and that it worked it self out.

Another thing I am noticing is it seems like I can see the edges of the lenses. For example, if I am looking straight ahead, if there is a light above me and to the left, I can see the top-left curve of my lens. Not sure if this is normal or will go away. The lenses already seem to be getting a little better though, and its only the second day. My only complaints other than the edges of the lens is the sliding of the right lens, and also, the right lens just seems a little blurry even when I am not blinking. That is my strong eye, which is leading me to think that it is not fit as well as it could be, but it also may just need some time to settle in.

[Asif]

to me it sounds like your right lens is maybe a tad flatter than ideal. movement between blinks is ideal for tear exchange but not excessively. with a flat lens vision immediately after a blink is blurry but shouldnt be to the extent that it is disorientating. it also sounds that the lens centration isnt very good if you can see the lens edge, or maybe your cone is situated downwards towards your temple. sounds like the lens is apically rotating, its when the centre of the lens rotates on the apex of the cornea usually when there is little apical clearence when you have a flat lens fit.

take a look in the mirror and see how much the lens move when you blink and what kind of movement is it...smooth or jerky. blink and than stare with your eyes wide open and check how well the lens centres, whether it lags in any position horziontally and vertically.

with a flat lens there is more of a chance that it can pop out and that it will be more uncomfortable to wear. is the KC worse in your right eye? anway i would get the fit checked out my friend possibly before you next checkup.

[timtim]

No the KC is actually worse in my left eye. It's very minor in my right eye. The doc even said I would probably be ok if I wanted to just wear a soft lens in my right, but he thought it was best to do RGP's in both since I needed it for the left.

I just looked in the mirror, and the right lens moves upward significantly after each blink, and it smoothly goes back into place...takes about one second or a little less to rest in place again. Also, judging from the black dot, it seems to make a full circular rotation in less than 30 seconds. Is this abnormal? The left lens seems to barely move at all after each blink, nothing siginificant. Should I continue wearing the lenses since the right one is doing this? Just want to make sure I'm not doing any harm to my eye if it is sliding. Also, is redness normal in the eyes? They are fairly red right now, but its only my second day, so I'm wondering if this will go away.

[John Smith]

Tim,

As I understand it, your RGP lenses SHOULD move around a little, it allows tears to reoxygenate the cornea.

It sounds to me that your left one needs to be loosened a little; your right one is either correct (as Gareth pointed out, you will produce fewer tears as time goes by, and the lens will be more stable then) or maybe too loose.

As David suggested, make sure that you get back to your fitter, who will know exactly what to do.

[GarethB]

Tim,

The KC in my right eye is in the 11 O'Clock position towards my nose. That lens is off centre to correct for the KC. So in certain conditions I too see the edge of the lens, but over time like most things KC you get used to it.

So you may well be experiencing very similar to me should the lens fit prove to be satisfactory at the follow up.

The only person to say is the optom at your follow up. Beyond that we are just sharing experinces.

[Andrew MacLean]

Tim

It just goes to show that KC eyes are all different!

I had always understood that RGP lenses were supposed to move about a little; indeed this is one way in which oxygen continues to get to the cornea beneath the lens. The issue is how much movement is enough, and how much is too much. If you are concerned (and I guess you wouldn't have posted if you were not), then pop back to the optometrist and ask for reassurance, or a new lens!

All the best

Andrew

[donna]

I have had my lenses for 3 months now, when I am tired I am aware of the edge of the lens, I can see it. As for the movement of the lens, my lenses move when I blink and I think it took a couple of days for me to stop noticing it all the time, when my eyes are dry I can tell because the lenses stop moving and feel stuck. I was told that they should move and that I would get used to it, and I did.
Its early days, go back for a check up, for peace of mind. Make your appointment for late morning so the optom can see what your lenses are like when they have been in for a while.