I'm an optometrist fitting soft contact lenses for KC...

[Lynn White]

Hi everyone...

I used to look at this site when working in Trinidad. I worked there for three years and was trying very hard to try and get UK specialists interested in the general geographical region and Trinidad in particular.

Why? Because the incidence of keratoconus is amazingly high. Its "well known" to professionals out there but not to anyone particularly over here.

I did contact Ann Keplacz and exchanged a few emails with Ken Pullum but was eventually sidetracked by a serious illness, now thankfully resolved and I moved back to the UK a few months ago.

Anyway, out there, I fitted a great many keratoconics and the challenge was that not many could tolerate rigid lenses because of the heat and the light intensity.

So, I brought over the Ultravision Kerasoft lens, which is manufactured here in the UK and this was very successful. I fitted all kinds of keratoconics, including many post grafts, with this lens and would like to say that, in my opinion, it is a very useful alternative to RGP's. It can correct up to 11.00 D of astigmatism as well as high degrees of myopia and is available in "varifocal" form as well.

This is definitely a lens you should ask your optometrists and hospital departments about and may actually be the one Jacqueline here is fitted with.

If anyone has any questions about it, I would be happy to answer!

Lynn

[Kathy Hobkirk]

Hi Lynn

I was fitted with the new hydrogels about a month ago.

Its very wierd to wear lenses that I cannot feel in my eyes, for a change.

When I was first diagnosed about 3 years ago I was fitted with RGP lenses which had to be changed after about 4 months every time because they kept decentralising. From then I went on to piggy back lenses. After a while they stopped working because I kept getting foggy patchies in my vision, so it was back to the RGP's.

Before my optician tried the hydrogels he tried biggers RGP's but they were no good either so this was the only solution he could come up with (after a few months of struggling and consulting other opticians).

My vision is getting better with the soft lenses and the comfort is brilliant but I still can't go longer than about 8/9 hours a day, I can't wear then to go out and at weekends I don't wear them at all to try and rest my eyes which means I am only left with my old glasses, the prescription does not correct my vision but makes things better than without.

Have you any suggestions that might be able to help with either the amount of hours I am able to wear my lenses or is it possible to get a newer prescription for my glasses that might help me better than not wearing them at all. Some days are better than others and I am able to manage quite well at the moment.

Thanks Kathy

[Lynn White]

Katherine...

I am not sure what you mean by you can't "wear them to go out" - could you explain further?

Also - if the comfort is brilliant what makes you feel you need to take them out after 8-9 hours? Do your eyes feel hot and or dry?? Do the lenses feel "tight"??

One reason may be that your corneas are still settling after coming out of RGP's and the fit may need flattening to allow the lenses to move more. If you have only had them for a month and they are the kerasoft lenses, you are still within exchange warranty and your optician can look again at the fit.

You might also try using an Alcon product - Systane - which is a new lubricant that works brilliantly on keratoconics. If you use it just before inserting the lenses and use it after removing, your eyes gradually become less dry.

Other things you could do help length of wear is to try wearing for four hours - leaving them out for a few hours and then putting in for another 4-5 hours and then gradually build up to bridge the gap.

I know this can be a tad awkard but it often works.

However, I would go back to your optician and get him to recheck the fit and remeasure your corneas to check if things have changed. He can't help if you don't ask him!!

Lynn

[Sajeev]

You sound like someone who REALLY loves their job ...Keep up the good work, your doing a great job!!

[Richard In Wales]

You might also try using an Alcon product - Systane - which is a new lubricant that works brilliantly on keratoconics. If you use it just before inserting the lenses and use it after removing, your eyes gradually become less dry.

Is this ok with hard lenses ?

[Lynn White]

Do you mean to put in while you are wearing lenses? If so it is not designed to do that which is why I was careful to say before or after you have the lens in. This is because preservative levels are higher than products specifically designed to go with lenses in the eye.

However, Systane is preserved with polyquad - a newer preservative that is is used in many newer contact lens solutions and is less likely to damage the lens than traditional presrvatives.

HOWEVER - the beauty about Systane is that it is designed to last in the eye and in fact repeated applications are not necessary. They recommend twice a day and usually works - so there is often no need to keep using it over and over again like other products.

So - to make that clear - it can be used whatever lenses you wear because you put it in before and after you wear the lenses.

I use it myself as I have a dry eye problem with my own contacts. Although I am not a keratoconic I am VERY shortsighted with astigmatism and have had my fair share of eye problems so I do know what it is like struggling to keep lenses going!

Hope this helps

Lynn

[Richard In Wales]

I have recently been put on Liquifilm Polyvinyl alcohol drops which I find very good in the eye with the graft. Just though these might help the other eye that still needs a lens.

Thanks

[Lynn White]

Hehe...love the frame !!

yep.. PVA drops are excellent too - though usually they need to be put in several times a day. Systane will work with with either eye!



Lynn

[Valeri]

Do you mean to put in while you are wearing lenses? If so it is not designed to do that which is why I was careful to say before or after you have the lens in. This is because preservative levels are higher than products specifically designed to go with lenses in the eye.

Lynn

I got this product several days ago and used it while wearing the contacts. It relieves the eyes ok, but If you think that it may damage the lens I will stop doing that.

Just to confirm that If I understood it right:

Before putting lens putting a drop or two in the eyes. Then putting the lens. After taking the lens off, putting a drop or two again.

Thanks for the insight.

[Lynn White]

Ahhhh... well if the lenses are RGP its unlikely to cause a problem....

Since they privide a film over the eye that lasts it usually should be OK to put them in b4 and after.

If however, you still find it better to use with the lenses in and they are RGP's - you are probably OK.

I don't actually think they have done the studies with this product and contacts...its one of those things where in the past there has been a few problems with preservatives and contacts. Now - its a general rule that you don't mix the two.

For more information check the website.....

http://www.systane.com/professional/default.asp

Lynn