Synergeyes KC

[Tiadinky]

My husband had his first trial of contact lenses yesterday and we were amazed. With the help of these lenses he nearly got down to 20/20 vision which was great as the week before wee were being told he had to change his job as he is a driver. He only has the problem in one eye and the other eye is fine. We have to wait a month to get them but if he gets his sight back in that eye it does not matter.

Just wanted to know if anyone has had a problems with these or any hints for them.

Looking forward to some hints.

Tiadinky

[Andrew MacLean]

Tiadinky

It is good to know that your husband's immediate response to his new lenses was so positive. I am sure that somebody will be along in a moment with lots of tips on their use!

Andrew

[GarethB]

The only thing I'd say is follow good personal hygiene and keep the lenses clean.

It is always good to have the lens basics to hand shoudl there be a need to reove the lens and give it a good clean.

For me, these are:

Towel - makes a good soft surface to catch a lens and to place over a sink in public toilets that never have a plug to plug the whole. Also stops lenses bouncing and chiping on a hard surface.

Mirror - small travel magnifying mirror to help remove lenses or see if there is a problem.

Saline - just a small bottle for emergency use (about 125ml)

Lens solutions - Boots do a good travel kit for GP lenses

Lens case - somewhere saeft to store lenses if you need to have a break from wearing them.

My lens stuff fits in a small case which sits with the mirror wrapped up in a towel.

There is also no harm in getting a medic alert bracelet so should your husband unfortuantly be involved in an accident the emergency services will know he is wearing contact lenses and can make sure they have not caused damage to the eye and remove them if necessary.

[Lizb]

I have had the Synergeyes lenses myself.

By careful about what soloutions you choose as these are hybrid lenses (soft outer, RGP centre) so not all solutions are suitable for these lenses. I used Oxysept Preservative Free Solution - partly as my eyes cant tolerate Preservative solutions.

These are the tips i was given to ensure comfortable wear time:-
- Fill the lenses with saline solution prior to inserting them, there is a trick to supporting a lens full of solution - it depends on how he is shown to insert lenses. It makes the lenses more comfortable and also eliminates the possibilty of air bubbles.
- After each wear ensure that the lenses are rubbed with the solution in his hand prior to leaving them in solution - it helps get rid of any build up of stuff. The lenses can appear to be delicate but i was told as long as they were kept wet whilst in storage they were quite hard wearing.
- I wasnt told initally but sometimes these lenses dont last more than six months and wear time can decrease if the lenses "wear out". I only found this out once i started having problems with wear time, they tried ordering me some new ones and then found out it was my eyes rather than the lenses. I am waiting on different lenses.

My trick was always to leave my previous nights solution in the container and take that with me in case i needed to take my lenses out - this was recommended by my CL fitter, as long as i remember to clean and store them properly when i got home. Again the solution i used only allowed me to wear my lenses after they had been in fresh solution for at least 6 hours.

I was always told that it could be between 1 and 4 weeks for my lenses to come in, this depended upon whether the firm had some lenses made to my requirements in the UK or if they had to come from the US.

I hope your husband find these lenses work for him and that they are comfortable.

I lost my PSV (bus) licence due to KC in one eye as the requirements, except in certain situations, was that i needed a minimum requirement without correction in each eye individually. That was the DVLA ruling. I had held my PSV licence since July 1997, and lost it in 2000. Is your husband HGV/PSV licence holder, ifso the DVLA may rule him unfit to hold this licence, unless he has held it prior to a particular year?

[Tiadinky]

Thanks Lizb

It is really useful

My husband drives van and 7.5 lorrys which is on his normal licence. We asked about it yesterday and were told that we did not have to do anything. I hope this is right.

[Lizb]

Upto 7.5tonnes are covered by normal licence - my understanding anyhow, for which the restrictions arent as severe luckily. Since losing my PSV licence i have obtained my motorbike licence. Normal licences you can still drive being fully blind in one eye by all accounts, I do have to look and move my head to the left (left eye with KC) due to having more restrictive vision on that side.

[GarethB]

We have had conflicting coments from people about notifying the DVLA. My optom said there was no need but others have said they were told to notify the DVLA.

There is a form on the DVLA web site to complete and the DVLA then contact your consultant. If your husband is getting suitable vision to drive the hospital will confirm this and there should be no problems with hi licence.

I notified the DVLA just to be safe and have no problems and I notified them when I it appeared a coupe of years ago that I would be registered blind in one eye and they were quite happy with that because of what I could see in the remaining eye. I have also kept my motoring insurers informed and they treat me no differently to anyone who wears glasses.

Just to be safe, I'd let the DVLA know if I were in your position.

[Tiadinky]

I think we will wait and see when the contacts have been in a few weeks. The car insurance is coming up soon so will let them know then.

Seems to be a bit of a gray area as looked at the DVLA yesterday and they want to even if you have anti-depressant which would mean have of the country so a bit mad really!

Will keep you informed how things go.

[BurnTheAction]

i had no luck with synergeyes, they damaged my eyes in fact, apparently im one of only a few it happens with tho, damnnit, they gave me gd vision for the odd half hour, tho so hard to get out!!!

[GeorgeThe2nd]

hi
i have a pair, had to cahnge them a few times , now i can wear them for 4 hours, then they get sore...but its the best i have ever had