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Hi, everyone - I just wanted to write a post to let everyone know about my recent experiences with scleral lenses, since there still seems to be some amount of hesitation and controversy in the medical industry around their use as a treatment for dry eye. I also want to compare my experience to those of other scleral lens users.
First of all, a bit about my background - I'm 32 and have been suffering from dry eye for a little over 4 years now. I've tried everything from compresses to Restasis to flax seed/fish oil, among many other things, with varying levels of success but no real relief. I work at a computer all day, and some days it's so bad that I can only squint at the screen. It wasn't until I finally obtained insurance through my work and was able to go see a specialist at Oregon Health and Sciences University (in Portland) that I found out about scleral lenses. The same doctor also put me on a course of Restasis and Lotemax (steroid drops) together, which worked wonders. But it was the scleral lenses I was really excited about - I used to wear contacts all the time, and I had resigned to wearing glasses for the rest of my life after the dry eye started. A contact that could both relieve dry eye and correct my vision - it seemed too good to be true!!
So I went to see the contact lens specialist, and began trialing my first pair about a month ago. That first pair was such a strong vision prescription that I was unable to focus on anything beyond 4 feet or so away. I had to take them out to bike anywhere (which is how I get around) and could really only wear them at work while on the computer. However, there was a drastic improvement in my dry eye symptoms. I should note that the steroid/Restasis course had been over for a couple of months by that point (after which my symptoms started to ramp up again), so there's no way I was confusing the relief from the scleral lenses with relief from the drops.
I told the lens doctor about the trouble with the prescription, and he explained that it's difficult to correct for both distance and close range simultaneously with scleral lenses, although I didn't entirely understand the logic. Since close range is more important for the majority of tasks, he said, close range correction is the priority. But he did order me a new pair which he said should correct my distance vision a bit, and they're definitely better - but still nothing like the correction I get with my glasses or my regular contacts. Biking is a little harrowing, and I would never dream of driving in them because I wouldn't be able to read street signs.
The relief I get from them (considering the fact that I don't rely on driving to get around) makes the decrease in vision 100% worth it - I can wear them pretty much all day, work at the computer comfortably, and not worry about being around blowy air or heat vents any more - but I do hope to make one more try at improving my vision a bit more.
Has anyone else had a similar experience with scleral lenses? Do you find it's been difficult to get the vision you expect with them?
Bottom line - for anyone who's on the fence or has been dissuaded from trying sclerals by your doctor - I would DEFINITELY, definitely recommend at least trying them. They're expensive (mine were about $590 after insurance, plus about $400 for the fittings and adjustments) but you'll never know if they work until you try, and the relief you get could be invaluable. Mine have already changed my life, and that's with a hit to my vision.
Thanks for any comments and similar stories you'd like to share - and good luck to all of you! It's a miserable condition...
Elena
First of all, a bit about my background - I'm 32 and have been suffering from dry eye for a little over 4 years now. I've tried everything from compresses to Restasis to flax seed/fish oil, among many other things, with varying levels of success but no real relief. I work at a computer all day, and some days it's so bad that I can only squint at the screen. It wasn't until I finally obtained insurance through my work and was able to go see a specialist at Oregon Health and Sciences University (in Portland) that I found out about scleral lenses. The same doctor also put me on a course of Restasis and Lotemax (steroid drops) together, which worked wonders. But it was the scleral lenses I was really excited about - I used to wear contacts all the time, and I had resigned to wearing glasses for the rest of my life after the dry eye started. A contact that could both relieve dry eye and correct my vision - it seemed too good to be true!!
So I went to see the contact lens specialist, and began trialing my first pair about a month ago. That first pair was such a strong vision prescription that I was unable to focus on anything beyond 4 feet or so away. I had to take them out to bike anywhere (which is how I get around) and could really only wear them at work while on the computer. However, there was a drastic improvement in my dry eye symptoms. I should note that the steroid/Restasis course had been over for a couple of months by that point (after which my symptoms started to ramp up again), so there's no way I was confusing the relief from the scleral lenses with relief from the drops.
I told the lens doctor about the trouble with the prescription, and he explained that it's difficult to correct for both distance and close range simultaneously with scleral lenses, although I didn't entirely understand the logic. Since close range is more important for the majority of tasks, he said, close range correction is the priority. But he did order me a new pair which he said should correct my distance vision a bit, and they're definitely better - but still nothing like the correction I get with my glasses or my regular contacts. Biking is a little harrowing, and I would never dream of driving in them because I wouldn't be able to read street signs.
The relief I get from them (considering the fact that I don't rely on driving to get around) makes the decrease in vision 100% worth it - I can wear them pretty much all day, work at the computer comfortably, and not worry about being around blowy air or heat vents any more - but I do hope to make one more try at improving my vision a bit more.
Has anyone else had a similar experience with scleral lenses? Do you find it's been difficult to get the vision you expect with them?
Bottom line - for anyone who's on the fence or has been dissuaded from trying sclerals by your doctor - I would DEFINITELY, definitely recommend at least trying them. They're expensive (mine were about $590 after insurance, plus about $400 for the fittings and adjustments) but you'll never know if they work until you try, and the relief you get could be invaluable. Mine have already changed my life, and that's with a hit to my vision.
Thanks for any comments and similar stories you'd like to share - and good luck to all of you! It's a miserable condition...
Elena
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