First experiences with lenses

[Mattsearle]

Hi all. Cheers to everyone on the forum for all their halp and advise which has come in useful on more than one occassion.

I was first diagnosed with KC at 16 but like all teenagers the thoughts of glasses and contacts didn't appeal. I went through all the fitting and had both specs and lenses but never wore them.

About six years ago (at 23) I finally decided to stop putting it off. I was (and still do) work in a control room with 20+ monitors etc. so had real need to get this sorted to do my job. I went to the opticians (specsavers but never again) and came home with a nice new pair of glasses and a referral for my GP. I got on well with the specs and my vision was much better so I decided to cop out once more on the lenses and conviently forgot about the referral! (I know, copping out again! I'll probably never learn).

The story continues two years ago with another opticians appointment with a real battle-axe who decided I was too close to not being able to drive. I'd (hopefully) matured a bit in my thinking by then so went along to the L&D and discussed my problem. This is where I met my current optician, Don Lydon. I then spent the past two years going back and forward to Harpenden from Welwyn Garden City at quite irregular intervals (I know I kept putting it off!).

I'm now a proud, first time owner of a set of piggy-back lenses. I've been working nights since getting them fitted and have worn them from wake to sleep each and every day. As you can probably tell I'm quite pround of this as I thought I'd never convince myself to keep at it.

Thoughts and problems so far:

This is just my observations and probs i've encountered so far. I know that i'll be going back within the next ten days and havng the fitting adjusted but I thought I'd see if anyone else has similar experiences.

My left eye (better of the two) doesn't seem as clear as when I wore the specs and have experienced fogging of my vision through the lens. Not sure yet what's causing it but I'm thinking it's where the lens is drying out as it seems better when freshly inserted.

My right eye (worse of the two) is now better than it's been for the last decade! I'm really impressed with the change. The only problem i've had so faar is that the rgp lens keeps popping out at the most inconvient times. It is dry as a bone when it comes out so i'm thining some serious hydration is required.

I had a severe case of nausea for the first night because I went from left eye dominant to right eye in a mater of hours. Not something i'd like to eperience too often.

I tried the specs for ten minutes yesterday without any lenses in. It's safe to say now I can't use them as my vision was terrible. Looks like my eyes have adjusted already to using contacts.

Well I think that's everything. If there's anyone in the Welwyn Garden City area who also has KC and fancies a coffee/beer feel free to contact me by PM.

Cheers to all.

[rosemary johnson]

Hallo Matt, and well done on getting into the lens world at last!
I can well imagine the effects of brain ache from going from one eye best to the other way round. SOunds like you're getting used to that, though?
Youcoudl well be right about being in need of serious rehydration. It might be the lens drying out that is dcausing the other one to go foggy, too.
Options are:
1. discipline yourself to keep blinking regularly. It is easy to stare hard at anks of monitors, or even a single computer screen, and just not blink properly or regularly enough.
2. artificial tears - systane, celluvisc or other brand. Suggest you ask about these at your next appointment (they re available on prescription, but may not be financially beneficial to do so unless you have a season ticket, for example)
3. drink lots more water/juice, drink coffee/coke/alcohol in moderation, eat healthily.... you know the stuff, lots of fruit and veg, and less of the chips and chocolate.
SOme people have found they have tears that are too thick and sticky, and get their lenses clogged up with goo as a result, with foggy patches and sticky lenses.
SOme have fixed this by a change in diet, and others by systane.
A lens that flicks out can also be a sign that the fit needs adjusting. SO again, this needs discussing next appointment.
SOUnds like you're doing well so far, and hope a bit of tweaking gets everything just right soon.
Rosemary

[Mattsearle]

Oh no! Disaster. It's day six and i've managed to snap one of my RGP lenses! Out shopping with the better half and it popped out. I then managed to find it but the other dropped out so while I was concentrating on finding the other lens I applied too much pressure while holding the first one and it snapped. Quick call to opticians just to let them know. I'm now unfortunately trying to get my eyes used to specs again but hopefully I'll have a result at my next appointment.

Drowning my sorrows in a large Brandy!

[Andrew MacLean]

Matt

Welcome to the forum, and welcome to the large community of people who have managed to break a lens!

Andrew

[pepepepe]

If this helps in someway... when I first tried contacts (which was for KC) it was - murder - times have changed though

Welcome !

[mattjbelfield]

Hi Matt,

I noticed your post on here from quite a while ago and Just wondered if you still see Don Lydon. I used to see him when we lived in Harpenden but we moved to Herefordshire and so I go to the hospital in Hereford where they fit synergise lenses (made by no. 7) and I find they're really good!

Regards,

Matt.