New to scelra lens

[L8rgator]

In my "emergency kit" I keep:
-Contact lens case containing spare lens floating in unisol solution or sterile saline
-Alcohol wipes
-Baggy with both plungers
-2 vials of sterile saline (addipak brand)

I don't use a mirror when I insert even at home. I use the big plunger (with my hand, not the kind on a stationary stand), and just look directly at the black hole as inserting it so it's lined up perfectly. I stand, unless I'm in my car. To take out I use the little plunger, and my rear view mirror. I don't use my fingers hold my eye open to take the lens out - it never seems necessary. I HAVE to use the big and little plungers though, even if I have a mirror. I even have to use the big plunger to put a regular soft contact in my other eye. I wish I didn't.

If you ever do it over a sink though, make sure you put a paper towel over the drain! It only took me once to learn that lesson (thank goodness the sink trap at my dr's office was only hand tightened!!!)

I always carry an extra lens with me. I figure it's better and faster to just throw in the spare instead of trying to (or carrying stuff to) wash one. And that way if I dropped the first one and it broke, I'd always have a spare with me. I fill it with the addipak vial saline, since it's easiest to care around. The vials work well as eye drops also when I run out of my regular drops.

For clouding I've read in a couple places that that a common culprit is often fit. A poor fit can cause clouding when there isn't enough room for fluid exchange - so I think it's like if it's too sharp or tight at the vault then liquid doesn't travel under it like it's supposed to. It sounds like there is a test they can do where they put a colored dye and then watch to see if it gets properly dispersed - if not, then the fit needs to be adjusted. I haven't heard of anyone having this actually done though.

Another poster at one point wrote that they used Lobob Optimum CDS regular strength cleaning/disinfecting/storage solution instead of the extra strength to get rid of deposits and that made a big difference. It's my guess though that if you do that you get rid of the plasma treatment on the lens much faster. The plasma treatment does a lot to prevent fogging, and people recommend you have the lenses retreated periodically. I haven't had mine retreated yet.

For me I only noticed clouding a couple of times: on the outside after a 2 really bad allergy attacks; and then also using Refresh drops (optive advanced or for contacts I believe, but I can't remember which) on the inside. I switched to only Blink contacts and Theratears preservative free (in the eye), including at night, and haven't had that problem again. What are you filling your lens with? Does your clouding tend to be in the inside or the outside? If it's allergies you might try an allergy drop on your eye overnight and see if things are any different the next day.

I've noticed that almost every soap contains deodorant, moisturizers, or other things that aren't conducive to making hands grease free. So now I only use soap specifically made for contact wearers and I really scrub with it. I washed out one of those foaming soap bottles, and filled it with 1/4 "vista prep" and 3/4 water. I bought vista prep in a huge refill bottle, and looks like that will last me 2 years at the rate it's going. Make sure you dry your hands really well also, because you don't want scale or other deposits from tap water getting on the lenses.

I agree with the filling advice - drip the liquid instead of squirt, and hesitate when it gets to the eye. Also it helps if you fill it until it overflows a bit- so actually drips over the side, instead of just until it is full. I've never seen my bubbles either. I can just tell there is one right after I insert my lens in the morning when it seems like the lens is bouncing as I blink.

[Amyfloor]

Definitely insert lenses before putting on any make up!

[alb1967]

Thanks everyone for all the tips. one more thing for the ladies. Should I apply make up after putting in my lens ? My dr did not inform me of this but I have read that was the case. i have been applying the make up first. I only use Mac face powder and some blush. Sometimes i use masscare but only on the tips of my lashes.

[miki-mama]

B&L Simplus is a "soaking" solution which cleans, disinfects, and conditions the RGP lenses. I use the Clear Care, then soak my lenses in Simplus. I find that it provides more lubrication and cushion for my lenses.

http://www.bausch.com/Our-Products/C.../#.VIzdIqTF_Wc

[Nightbird]

I've been wearing these lenses (not the same pair!) for almost 15 years, now. So, I can remove/insert while sleep walking. I use only one plunger (the larger one for inserting) for both removal and insertion. So, I never need to touch the lenses with my fingers. If the lens gets cloudy and I need to rinse it out at a public restroom, I lay down a thick layer of paper towels on the countertop away from the sinks, where I place the lens case and Unisol. I quickly remove and swish the lens in the Simplus solution in the lens case, rinse with Unisol and fill up the lens and reinsert. It takes me all of 15 seconds. In my car, I usually have a box of kleenex or a roll of paper towel. I place either on my lap, place another sheet of paper towel in the cup holder for the Unisol. I place the lens case with Simplus on the paper towel on my lap, CAREFULLY open the lens cap, remove my lens, swish in Simplus, rinse and reinsert.. I emphasized CAREFULLY, because I have tipped the lens case over and spilled the simplus solution out a few times. I'm sure if my doctors read what I do with my lenses, they will have a heart attack!

Thanks for the the details. I still think this is a skill level I'll never get to. It sounds like you can do it without a mirror, amazing. My doctor would definitely read me the riot act if I did this sort of thing. What is Simplus? I was only told to use Optimum ESC, which you have to rinse off completely under running water, and ClearCare which takes six hours, to clean and disinfect the lenses.

[Nightbird]

My lenses were deliberately fitted with a high vault so that the surface will dry out and get blurry in order to get the blink reflex to kick in. If yours are fitted the same way and you have AD (I don't, just MGD) they may well be drying out even if you blink often. I would definitely try drops. I use Refresh Contacts if I am wearing them for a long time in especially dry conditions, like in the wind. I find anything else just makes the blurriness worse. The Refresh drops are not PF but as the corneas are protected by the lenses I don't worry about the preservatives. I should mention that I don't wear the lenses very often these days, and usually not for long periods, so I don't use many drops. If you need them often maybe you should look for a PF version, but I don't know of any specifically for contacts. Maybe just experiment with different PF drops until you find something that works. Good luck.

[alb1967]

OK one more question, if everyone does not mind I say that I am experiencing cloudiness in my lens but after 4 hrs of wear my Dr said he said minimal (very little) debri. Could this actually be fogginess from the eyelid drying the lens out instead of cloudiness ? Should I try a drop of preservatine free artifial tears when this happens first to see if that clears it up, before taking it out and reinserting?

[alb1967]

Thanks miki-mama for all the good advice !! So where are you located. I am in KY GO WILDCATS !!

[miki-mama]

That's funny you call it a talent! Ha ha! Anything you do multiple times daily for over a decade, you will get very good at it.

Here are some tricks I learned to prevent the bubbles.

(1) fill the lens with saline with a slow flow. Squirting hard causes bubbles.
(2) as you insert the lens, I let the fluid touch the cornea for a 1/2 a second before releasing the lens. The surface of the cornea "pops" the bubbles as you would with the tip of your finger. I always over fill the lens slightly.

If you find a bubble dancing around in front of you like an elephant blocking your view at an unfortunately moment, such as driving or at the theatre where you can't stop and rinse out your lenses, I close my eyes slightly, and look down at my feet for a few seconds. Doing this sends the bubbles to the bottom of the lens, allowing you to see. If the bubble is large enough, it will actually cause dryness in your cornea. In this case, only thing you can do is reinsert.

Best of luck with your new lenses!!

[alb1967]

Nightbird- I have the Europa lens which is the next generation of the Jupiter lens. I have never stood up to put them in. I have only sat at a table. Granted I have only had them for a week so I am sure the more I take them in and out I will get more use to it. I have had an air bubble twice but I have not been able to see it by looking in the mirror. The only way I knew I had one, was the fact that when I blinked the bubble would rotate under the lens. It was the weirdest thing LOL. I had them in for 4 hrs the other day when I went to my Drs appt. There was a little cloudiness then but he said it was very minimal debri under the lens. Next time he checks them, I will make sure I have them in a lot longer. I had to give them back so he could send them out for modification (I was so sad LOL). I get them back next week. My lenses are for dry up but more for vision. I have an irregular astigmatism from my lasik (which did not bother me until I got dry eye). So I am very happy with the lenses even if I have to take them out and reapply.

miki-mama very impressive. I am not sure I can ever be that talented. Thank you for all the suggestions about being out in public. I am sure the more I have the lens, the more comfortable I will get with taking them in and out. I now have 2 sets of plungers, one for home and one for my purse. I also keep a lens case and Bio True solution and vials of PF saline in a baggy in my purse so I am always ready to go. I have never been a bib purse kind of girl but I have to now

[miki-mama]

I've been wearing these lenses (not the same pair!) for almost 15 years, now. So, I can remove/insert while sleep walking. I use only one plunger (the larger one for inserting) for both removal and insertion. So, I never need to touch the lenses with my fingers. If the lens gets cloudy and I need to rinse it out at a public restroom, I lay down a thick layer of paper towels on the countertop away from the sinks, where I place the lens case and Unisol. I quickly remove and swish the lens in the Simplus solution in the lens case, rinse with Unisol and fill up the lens and reinsert. It takes me all of 15 seconds. In my car, I usually have a box of kleenex or a roll of paper towel. I place either on my lap, place another sheet of paper towel in the cup holder for the Unisol. I place the lens case with Simplus on the paper towel on my lap, CAREFULLY open the lens cap, remove my lens, swish in Simplus, rinse and reinsert.. I emphasized CAREFULLY, because I have tipped the lens case over and spilled the simplus solution out a few times. I'm sure if my doctors read what I do with my lenses, they will have a heart attack!

[Nightbird]

miki-mama, I too am impressed that you can take the lenses out and reinsert them anywhere, even in your car! I can understand the restroom thing but the car, amazing. Where do you put all the bottles of solution and things, and the mirror? Do you carry hand sanitizer also to clean your hands first? Or something else?
alb1967, to answer one of your questions, you can stand and lean over a mirror to put them in. I actually find that easier than sitting. Do you have Jupiters? I find that if I don't get the insertion exactly right they will cloud. My dr. confirmed this, if there is even the tiniest air bubble, too small for you to be aware of, it can happen. Taking them out and reinserting fixes that for me.

[alb1967]

miki-mama thank you for all your responses, I appreciate all the suggestions. Wow how can you do the removal and reinsertion in your car, that takes skills LOL. I assume I will get much more use to take them in and out as time goes on. It will be like second nature. I also assume you carry a small mirror ? I did not know you can clean your hands with alcohol gel. Also when you say conditioning solution, I assume you mean all purpose contact lens solution (not the clear clean solution we use to store them at night)? My Dr said only use that solution for storing at night and must be stored at least 6 hours. Also when you are in a public restroom, where do you go to clean them ? I mean since we have to bend over and look in a mirror (and you do not do it over a sink), where do you sit to do it ? To be honest, I am not at all embarrassed about having to remove my lens in public. We all have this terrible disease and if this is what makes us feel better than that is what we have to do I guess all these things I will figure out as time goes on, but for now, I can say I am happy I got these lens. I just wish I had went to this Dr 6 mos ago (he is the one that explanined to me why I was having the ghosting issues in my vision, it was due to not having much oil anymore to mask the small irregularies in my cornea from lasik). If I had went to him 6 mos ago I would have had them and had been wearing them instead of dealing with all these vision problems. Also one other thing, I what type or artificial tears do you use with scelra lens ?

[miki-mama]

I usually carry my "scleral supply kit" which includes a small packet of tissue, sm bottle of antibacterial gel, bottle of unisol, lens case and a plunger. I rinse my lenses in my car if it's nearby, where I keep additional supply such as a roll of paper towel and a box of Kleenex. If not, I go to the rest room, put down a thick layer of paper towels and rinse right on the paper towel stack (not over the sink). I would never handle my lenses in a less than pristine public restroom, though. Too risky for contamination! I used to be self conscious about handling my lenses it in front of other people. But these days, I just whip out my kit and rinse my lenses in the middle of a restaurant at my table. As for the soap, Ivory bar soap should be o.k. I just avoid any that says it includes moisturizer or one that is heavily scented. When ever at home, I always use the dishwash liquid to wash my hands. Once you get oil on the lens, you have to use a cleaner to clean and rinse with saline to get it off. One time I was driving and got oil smear on my lens. No matter how much artificial tears I put in and blinked, I couldn't get rid of it. So, I pulled over, disinfected my fingers with alcohol gel, dunked the lens in the conditioning solution which is also cleaner in my lens case, rubbed it clean, rinsed with saline and put the lens back in. And it was like a different world!

[alb1967]

Thanks miki-mama yes I think it is a good idea to clean them through the day as well. Any suggestions on when you are out (say at the mall or a football game) where to take them out and clean them ? Do you just go to a regular restroom ? You know I took them out once already and I started to cloud up not long after. maybe it is oil on the lens. I use Ivory bar soar (which my Dr said was ok) but maybe this is not what I should use. Any suggestions on soap to lcean your hands with?