RGP discomfort

[Loopy-Lou]

Been having some intermittant discomfort, no redness or change in acuity but it is worrying me, especially as when I take the lens out at night the discomfort can continue for a couple of hours or so. I worry air pollution (high in my area which has affected my asthma over time) could be affecting me (I can't even consider lens intolerance so don't even say it).

[Loopy-Lou]

anyone used this? http://www.tintedscreen.com/

[britdaz]

I havn't really suffered from this but last year I had dry spots on my left eye, it was a bit like some one squeezing the surface with tweezers, ouch.
Its quite common according to optom. The problem was my tears were not very good, the advice was no caffiene and to drink plenty of water which did the trick.

Darren

[britdaz]

Ps do you use eye drops? Or could you pop your lenses out and let them soak in solution for a few minutes?

[Loopy-Lou]

thanks Darren, I didn't know about dry spots. I have Hylo-tear, maybe I need to up my use of them

[britdaz]

Dry spots from what I can remember is caused by the eye lid missing the surface of the eye due to the contact lens, 3 and 9 oclock are the common places.
Your tears have to be able to run into the dry areas, mine didn't, the optom described them reacting like water on a hot frying pan.

If prolonged use of a computer screen is causing discomfort, I would take my lenses out for a few minutes and give your eyes a refreshment break!

I drive a lorry so its easy for me to do this in my break, also when I pop them back I put a splodge of solution in them, gives my eyes a good soaking and feels nice too!

[Loopy-Lou]

yes sometimes when putting in hypromellose for an extra slosh I do get the water on a frying pan feeling

[Lia Williams]

Lou,

I'm sorry to read that you have having problems with the lens. I think that it can be quiet difficult to work out what's causing discomfort especially if there are no obvious causes or other issues.

Have you had grit or anything else trapped behind the lens recently? If so it could be a mild corneal abrasion which is causing the discomfort. The cure for this is usually to leave the lens out for a few days - which we all know is not easy to do when you need the lens to see.

Or have you changed anything recently? New solutions with a different formula? Or a new lens? Even it is supposed to be the same as the old one your eye might be able to tell the difference even if the lenses measure the same. In the past I have found that one lens can be comfortable and its replacement intolerable, no matter how many times I rewet the lens.

If it's still causing problems in a few days it may be worth asking for an earlier appointment.

Lia

[Loopy-Lou]

Thanks Lia, yes I have had a replacement lens, that helps to know you've found replacements uncomfortable. Not using different solutions but I am cleaning at night now instead of in the morning to see if that helps. I have the needle stabbing face gurning eye streaming grit number regularly, but this has been lower grade and more persistent. If it doesn't settle I may see about bringing the appt forward yes.

[Loopy-Lou]

It's finally easing up after nearly 2 weeks in total