Announcement

**Rebecca Petris** · 14-Sep-2009, 07:01

Hi Yani,

Sorry to hear about this not going well for you, after the trouble and expense. From what you're describing of discomfort and debris, I'm wondering if some of it is fit-related.

This part really surprised me:

Originally posted by Yani View Post

The instructions were clear and explicit: to wear them no more than 5 hours (applies to every scleral lenses and anyone)
The reason:
The cornea sheds debris (dead cells etc.) all the time and with the temperature (36 celsius) it rots (and cooked slowly...) and that is not good...

I've never heard this from any contact lens practitioner so I was curious why. Sclerals have been worn full time by keratoconus and other types of patients for many years, and I wear mine about 16 hours a day most days. There is supposed to be some fluid exchange I think that keeps it from being entirely stagnant under there.

**Yani** · 14-Sep-2009, 08:01

hi

Hi Rebbeca !
I trust my practitioner. he knows things...
Yes according to his answers, yes it is pretty stagnant fluid. no "transportation"..
I don't think my lenses don't fit me... I was told this irritation is natural and unavoidable.

**Stanza** · 16-Sep-2009, 09:48

Yani, we have the same problem, are you trying with different drops instead of saline in them? this makes it longer, ok, I know it's not good for long term but it's good while we try out if it can improve. My fogging comes slower with drops.

changing the saline/drops every hour is not practical, by then, I have like you, no visiblity.

**mylittlem** · 16-Sep-2009, 11:24

Gas Permeable Contacts

Have you tried other types of lenses, specifically the gas permeable variety? I have an appointment tomorrow with my 12th eye doctor and thought I would ask about this as an alternative to in some way help to treat the dry eye condition and help me deal with the aesthetic issue of wearning my glasses now after years of contacts.

**Stanza** · 16-Sep-2009, 12:01

I have lid problems and with rgps... = very painful and they don't fit well I have very big eyes. but you could try, I think the thing to remember is there's things to try but not to have too much hope in one basket

i will do a post at some point about my whole fitting experience as it was very good (regardless of outcome for me) but probably not for a while. need to see how things go a bit first.

**Yani** · 20-Sep-2009, 16:16

reply.

Hi Marge Peletier and Stanza,

Marge:
I think every scleral lens today is RGP. no one will use materials that are not gas permeable.
As for the aesthetic issue (if I understood right): in certain perspective, glasses will not make you less attractive to the person that is right for you.

Stanza: I didn't understand your first post very well. I use saline drops (0.9% NaCl in distilled water). I don't use any other sort of drops. When the fog covers my view, I change the saline and then the view becomes clear.

Hope I helped.

**ronny** · 20-Sep-2009, 18:55

i also got an 8,000 dollar pair of sclerals, just sitting in the closet. just didnt work out for me either.

**Lucy** · 20-Sep-2009, 20:26

Ditto to what Ronny said.

**texaseyes** · 21-Sep-2009, 09:28

fogging problem improved

Hi fellow scleral users,

I know exactly what you're talking about with the fogging. I had that same problem with my left Boston Scleral lens (I never could even wear my right lens). I tried again with different sclerals, from Dr. G. The fogging in my left eye is significantly better, to the point where it is rarely a problem. My right eye fogs more often than my left, but when that happens it is still very manageable by using fresh saline once in the early evening. Dr. G. also noticed a big improvement in the debris in my tear film by removing my upper plugs. (he could see it on the images of my eye he took, and showed me my before and after pictures). If you are trying to wear sclerals, having all four ducts plugged is not a good idea.

I know we all have different eyes, but my personal experience is that I am able to wear Dr. G's sclerals with much greater success than I had with my Boston Lenses, even after the upper plug removal. So, I think Rebecca's comment about the fit could be right. Good luck, and I hope you find a solution that works for you.

Linda

**Yani** · 21-Sep-2009, 22:29

Hi

Hi Linda !

What is the "plug" you refer to ?

**gz9gjg** · 22-Sep-2009, 13:18

Hello Marge Peletier,

I have worn custom RGPs since 2002, after having LASIK in 2000. I wear them every day with great success. They give me FAR better vision than soft lenses or glasses. If I had ever tried RGPs, I would never have had LASIK.

RGP comfort after surgery, is highly dependent on a great fitting. Having had LASIK, my cornea shape is no longer natural / normal, so I needed custom lenses. It takes more experience and patience to fit RGPs, so many doctors only fit soft lenses.

Re dry eye: My eyes are somewhat dry due to the LASIK. I originally got my RGPs in Michigan, I now live in Arizona. The lenses hold a tear pool behind the lens, and the lenses have no water content. I believe RGPs are more comfortable in dry conditions.

It did take me about 6 or 8 weeks to get used to the RGPs at first. I had foreign object sensation and excessive tears. Gradually that went away.

Note: My RGPs cost me well under $1000. Nothing like the cost of sclerals!!!!!

Good luck,

Lynne
Phoenix, AZ

**Aaron77** · 22-Sep-2009, 13:55

Lynne, what type of RGP's did you get? I have heard that there are some that are a smaller diameter than regular contacts and those that are larger with the larger being better. I don't think any of the optometrists I have visited have had a clue about contact lenses and getting a good fit for the dry eye sufferer after lasik. Opthamologists keep dismissing the idea of contacts.

**gz9gjg** · 22-Sep-2009, 16:36

Hello Aaron,

I have Wave RGPs. Check out this link:

http://www.wavecontactlenses.com/

The site has a doctor locater, which is how I found Dr Dennis Benedict in Jackson, MI.

My lenses are about 12mm diameter.

Good luck,

Lynne
Phoenix, AZ

**Aaron77** · 25-Sep-2009, 12:11

Looks like there's 3 wave RGP providers in the Vancouver area, might have to finally check out BC. One of the providers is Dr. Steven Lee @ www.myorthok.com/ , funny because I've asked about him here before.

Do you find that your eyes feel less dry with the wave RGP's as compared to with nothing at all?

I think my main problem is dryness and of course a bit of a problem with night vision.

Announcement

My experience with sclerals

My experience with sclerals

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment