When I take my lenses out

[Paul Morgan]

I have been using corneal RGP's for about a year, and we seem to be getting along famously...which is good news.

However, an extra challenge that I did not bargain for was the effect when I take my lenses out.

My left eye is far worse that my right, although both have KC...I can read reasonably right eye only, but left eye - no chance.

What happens though is when the lenses come out, within half an hour I get a headache. It helps of I put my old specs back on (which I do use from time to time to watch TV etc) but it makes life pretty misersable.

I get the same thing at the weekend too, when I often give myself a bit of a rest from the lenses. Within a short while a headache starts and the day is miserable.

The obvious answer is to put the lenses in first thing and it won't happen....I guess I'm just trying not to be too dependent on them...ha, maybe I'm in some sort of KC denial or something...maybe this is it for me and I'd better get used to it. I'm beginning to think that is the answer.

Anyway....has anyone else had this sort of experience in the early stages of using lenses (as I say I've only had them about 12 months). To be honest it does worry me a bit, although I shouldn't moan really as I am incredibly lucky really because my vision with lenses is pretty damn good.

Look forward to your responses....

[GarethB]

I know where you are coming from regarding the headaches and with me I think it was suddenly being able to see and I wore the lenses for as long as I could. Then I read a post about good and bad eye days which made me think.

How long are you wearing your lenses for each day?

For me to overcome the headache issue, I wear one lens at a time. Usually start the day wearing the right lens as it is getting light in the morning glare is not as bad in that eye as it is at night. Come lunch time my lens comes out and the left lens goes in the left eye. Driving home in the dark is fine with that eye as it does not suffer the same glare and sensitivity issies as the right. Took me about three months to get used to. The upshot of this is that I can suddenly go a weekend with no lenses and no headaches as if my eyes are not really trying to see.

I do try and limit looking at a tv and/or computer screen to no more than two hours per night and busy myself about the house instead. Partly so I am not straing to see a screen and secondly so when I look at TV, I need to be abot 6 inches away which means no one else gets to see it.

Hope this help a bit.

Gareth

[Paul Morgan]

Gareth

I'm comfortable with my lenses most days for 12-16 hours (which is about as long as I can stay awake....I like sleep!).

I must admit, I don't much fancy your idea of alternating lenses. On the odd occasion when I have only had one lens (in for alterations etc) I have found it really unpleasant and unbalancing...I'll bear the idea in mind though.

As regards TV/PC usage...I'm at a PC all day at work. Bless them they've bought me a bloody great flat screen which makes things better (much better), and I really don't watch a lot of TV.....although I do like Spooks...is it just me, am I a bit sad...I'd be c**p at it!

Anyway, I digress. The PC usage does bother me long term though. I doubt if I'll be able to use one to this extent for ever more and what then...how to provide for the family. Send the wife out to work, and push the kids up chimneys maybe....ah well cross that bridge when it appears! That said, I'm not sure I want to sit infront of it for ever more, but that's another issue....forgive the rambling.

Yes I'm sure the headaches are a result of going quickly from good vision to bad vision very quickly, I reckon the likes of us are just stuck with it. It's like everything with KC, it's a matter of managing it as best you can.

[Asif]

I undertand the problem. It is because of the quick change from good vision to bad. You'll get used to it after a while and the headaches will go away. For me it was 2-3 weeks if it was that bad i would take a pain killer. I also wore softperms using the alternate monocular lens wear as mentioned above which was difficult to get used to seeing trhough one eye but was fine with it after a while.

[GarethB]

Paul,

It is possible your eyes are tierd.

Using a pc reduces your blink rate so gradually your eyes dry out. You may not be aware of this, which is why the Health and Safety guidlines for computer use is to take regular short brakes. The occupational health nurse and external VDU assesors we have a work recomend 30 minutes max use and then a 5 minutes break before comencing VDU work again.

As for wearing lenses for 12 - 16 hours, I can hear the optomotrists crying already. Such long wear time is not recomended and as Asif pointed out this is probably why you get the headaches. Your brain is nolonger used to seeing without them and is totally reliant.

Alternating kenses is not as wierd as it first sounds. Try it and you will find after a week or so you will probably have adapted. For many on this forum it is the only way to have enough sight to do a days work.

[Darran Smith]

Hi all

I too have the exact same issue as Paul has described and have come to the conclusion that it is (as is often with KC) - one of those things we have to deal with !

In the past, I have tried wearing one lens for periods but found that it didn't help too much - I still got the headaches and had miserable days as a result !

I also try to get as much out of the day as is possible so wear the lenses until it is absolutely unbearable and I have to take them out - I perhaps need to change my philosophy on that as the extended wear can't be doing my eyes any good.

I have worn lenses for circa 8 years and it has only recently occurred to me that I am "part time partially sighted" as my uniaided vision and vision with specs isn't worth a damn !

Keep smiling......

[Paul Morgan]

Gareth - as always, interesting points and good advice, thanks.

Darran - thanks for your comments. Yes, I agree with you that this is probably just another challenge to be faced.

At least through this forum we can all face it together.

Cheers

[eileen hughes]

My son has recently had KC diagnosed in left eye only at the moment and he received his RGP contact lens last week. The Consultant and the Optom both said that they didn't think he would be able to get used to wearing it but he has astounded me and I think they will be surprised also.

He has been wearing the lens only since last Wednesday and is now able to wear it all day - from first thing in the morning until after he has done his homework! The only thing he has commented on it the headache and lack of sight when he takes it out. Being a glasses wearer myself could only presume that when he takes the lens out the headache was due to the lack of vision. Glad I was probably right.

What I would like to know is what is the maximum time he should wear it in any one day?

[GarethB]

Eileen,

How long should we wear our lenses?

The manufacturer of my lenses says 16 hours, however they cover this by saying some eye conditions mean this should be reduced. My optomotrist says 8 hours.

Personally I think the general rule of thumb is that lenses should be removed at the first signs of discomfort and 12 hours should be the max. The wear time is dictated by many factors, environmental conditions, dry air causes dry eyes and discomfort. Smoke and pollen can cause lid irritation as particles stick to the lens surface. Extended wear can cause protein build up and you start to see through a milky haze. Looking at computers, TV or concentrating on a book reduces the blink rate to the eyes start to dry.

Sorry I am unable to give definitive answer, but hope the explanation helps.

The extra blurred vision after taking lenses out, well a side effect of wearing the lenses is that they put slight pressure on the cone caused by KC and once the lens is removed, the cone starts to revert back to its 'normal' shape. This does take time to get used to as the brain has coped for a while with poor sight, now it is going from good sight to poor in a very short time.

I find if I go to watch TV straight after removing my lenses I will get a headache. However if I give my eyes time to adjust (now only 5 - 10 minutes) by doing something where the eyes are relativly relaxed looking at something in the distance, I can start looking at things close up.

My dogs now get lots of exercise as I take them for a walk once I have removed my lenses.

[Carol Vines]

i too am very lucky that i can wear my lenses for most days for 16 hours; on days where i can't do this i wear only my right lens as i can see reasonable enough and give my left eye a rest. unfortunately i can't do it the other way round, left eye useless with no lens, it did take a while to get used to wearing only one lens but is the best solution for me.

my optom knows i wear my lenses for 16 hours and says though not ideal he does understand that without them i just cannot get on with life; i use a pc all day and wouldn't dare leave the house without wearing lenses, my vision is good with but totally useless without lenses.

we all vary on how long we can cope with the lenses and agree with others the best thing to remember is to not wear them (if possible) if your eyes are tired/sore as the lenses will make them worse.