Scleral lenses question

[dave25]

I've read a lot of good things on here about scleral lenses and I was wondering if there are any side effects? I remember asking my doc about them a while back and he said one of the side effects was that there was a very small chance of getting an infection that caused blindness. Is this true?

[Rebecca Petris]

True re infection. Don't remember coming across anything suggesting possible blindness. I don't know the % or how it compares to soft lenses.

I'd recommend you post this question in the PROSE forum down in the archives where BFS staff could address it with some actual numbers.

When assessing this I think you might want to make a distinction between, say, risks i.e. those things where there is a very small but still real possibility of some catastrophic complication and side effects i.e. vision slightly poorer after removal, or extra mucous production, or issues with the eyelids. I think a lot of people pursuing sclerals want more than anything to have a realistic grip on the 'likely' day to day issues even more than the rare risk type things.

[shanku]

Hi Dave, I think your doctor is referring to Acanthamoeba infection:

How Could Contact Lens Wearers Be at Risk of Acanthamoeba Infection? A Review
http://www.journalofoptometry.org/en...culo/13188766/
CDC - Acanthamoeba Infection - Publications
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/acantha...ns.html

However, you can minimize the impact by choosing appropriate contact lens solution:

One- and two-step hydrogen peroxide contact lens disinfection solutions against Acanthamoeba: How effective are they?
http://www.nature.com/eye/journal/v1.../6701752a.html

Good Luck!

[dave25]

Thank you Rebecca and shanku for your replies. The reason I asked is because I was disappointed when my doc suggested I hold off on going this route. His two main reasons were I am still fairly young (30 years old, I think I was 26 at the time) and my vision is not that bad. He then added the part about possible infections, I believe he said there is less than 1% chance of anything like that happening.

It kind of scared me at the time, but looking back I've come to realize that even if that were the case it is such a low percentage that I wouldn't worry about it. Thank you Rebecca I will post this in the PROSE forum as well.

[bakunin]

My doctor who sells Sclerals says serum drops could cause infection. My other doctor who doesn't sell sclerals, says a side effect of sclerals will be more clinical signs (more irritated eyes or eyelids). I tested sclerals for 2 hours and I got and eyelid inflammation for one week after it. I think it was due to my fingers pulling the eyelids to put them. In the eye whose eyelids got inflammed I had to put the lense many times because of bubbles. I think I pulled the eyelashes when doing it, so they got inflammed.
So, I believe the doctor who says it could cause more clinical signs has his part of reason.

I didn't decided yet if I will buy sclerals, or I will try plug first.

good luck!

[dave25]

Hi bakunin, yeah your issues probably fall under what Rebecca was saying in that most people worry about the day to day use of sclerals over anything rare happening. I do still have some lid inflammation due to ocular rosacea and mgd, but the concept of sclerals is very appealing to me. I just need to start saving some money before they even become an option.

[onefatsurfer]

I got scleral lenses about a month ago. The side effects I'm noticing are that they are slightly uncomfortable (i can tell they're in, and occasionally they feel "annoying") and my vision after taking them out is noticeably worse for about a half hour after removing them. My eyes feel sore after wearing them for about 10 hours, but I find removing them, rinsing, and reinserting them helps a lot with that, so I do that at least once if I'm wearing them in a "marathon" session. Otherwise, I love my sclerals.

[dave25]

I got scleral lenses about a month ago. The side effects I'm noticing are that they are slightly uncomfortable (i can tell they're in, and occasionally they feel "annoying") and my vision after taking them out is noticeably worse for about a half hour after removing them. My eyes feel sore after wearing them for about 10 hours, but I find removing them, rinsing, and reinserting them helps a lot with that, so I do that at least once if I'm wearing them in a "marathon" session. Otherwise, I love my sclerals.

That's great to hear! Do you have ocular rosacea?

[MartyM1985]

That's great to hear! Do you have ocular rosacea?

Yo Dave. I've got my PROSE consultation in LA later this month. I'll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, here are two other people who are having success with PROSE.

http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/showthread.php?19154-Lasting-Relief-with-Prose-Lenses


http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/showthread.php?19194-Prose

[dave25]

Hey thanks Marty! I'm definitely interested in hearing how your fitting goes. Good luck man.

[Faith1989]

I am also going to try out sclerals. Even if they are uncomfortable at first, I am going to try to stick it out. I've never put a contact in my eye and don't know what to expect. My corneal specialist says my condition is mild (ya..ok) so I would be a good candidate. I told my bf I don't have high hopes as nothing has given me much relief except Lotemax. God I hate my life right now. I would be happy with ANY relief from the burning by mid day.

Good luck Marty!

[icycarol]

Any one get neovascularization on your eyes?

Carol