Bandage lenses

[patrick]

Hello all,

So, today i went to a contact lens specialist for an exploratory conversation about sclerals.
The optometrist evaluated my condition first and she told me that my eyes both are (very) dry,but the corneas look remarkably healthy. I hear that all the time and i think it is very contradictory.

Long story short she wants me to try bandage lenses first and see how that turns out. She also said that regarding my dryness i am a candidate for sclerals,but she said that in all honesty it is always a matter of try and error with these lenses. Some people can tolerate them perfectly while others can't bear them at all. These lenses rest on the sclera's of course and my sclera's are dry. The optometrist told me that there is some risk that the lenses will cause irritations at the edges.

I have the bandage lenses in a few hours now. I don't feel them at all. I think its too early to tell if they are effective for pain relieve. I guess i have to give it a few days to see if they help or not.
I'm told to not wear them at night,because i have no pain while i sleep or upon awaking whatsoever.
First check up is in the course of next week.

Anyone here who currently has bandage lenses or had them in the past? I'd like to hear your experiences!

[André Pereira]

I have dry eye due to LASIK as well.

When I test the scleral lenses, the doctor told me the same thing. My eyes are very dry, but my cornea is healthy.

The first time I tested the scleral lenses. They irritated my eyes. But it was due to the dye used. Without it, the doctor can not see if the lens fit right.

In my second test, I just used the lenses with saline. I spent an hour and a half with them. I felt no big difference, just feeling "a bit cold" in the eyes. My eyes were a bit red too. Just a little.

I used a 17.5mm lens. And there was no attempt with other lenses to see if they fit better. The scleral lenses are crawling around here yet.

Only when I removed the lenses, so my eyes were all red. It took around an hour, an hour and a half to improve.

The doctor said my cornea is VERY sensitive.

When I saw that you are testing the scleral lenses, I wonder if you felt any change as the redness of the eyes. and if you also have this problem.

I'm still seriously considering making the lenses of Dr. G. Because from what I read here on this forum, they have helped the post-lasik. Comfort is crucial for those who have sensitive eyes.

I am also in the process of doing autologous serum eyedrops. Are two tools that have not yet used it and seem to be quite promising.

I've managed to reduce my symptoms from severe to moderate. I am hopeful get into the range of mild symptoms.

THX,

[patrick]

Hi andré,

Thanks for your reply.
So you have healthy corneas to. Congratulations. Not that it helps a bit,but it is always nice to hear something is healthy.
Can't really understand though how it is possible to have bone dry eyes and still healthy corneas.

Currently i am not testing sclerals yet,beause the lens fitter wants me to try bandage lenses first. The sclerals are approximately 2500€ per pair and are fully covered by insurance. Thats why she wants to see first how my eyes react to the bandage lenses. After this 2 weeks trial period of she wants to decide if we can or cannot move on to the actual scleral lens fitting proces. I guess to prevent a lot of money and effort gets wasted if it turns out i am not a good candidate for scleral lenses. And still its never 100% sure it will be a success.

[patrick]

Sorry,submitted the previous post prematurely.
I wore the bandage lenses yesterday for about 10 hours and really couldn't feel them at all. Put in an artificial tear now and then.
At bed time i wanted to remove the lenses to store them in the container i got to keep them in overnight. The left lens came out easily,but the right refused to come off my eye. After a couple of minutes of trying it came off and left me with a very red eye. What a mess. Where is the time i only had to worry about brushing my teeth! This morning upon awakening all redness was gone.

I also want to go try autologous serum drops possibly initially together with flm drops (corticosteroid).
Because i still haven't given up trying to restore my own tearing function.
A confocal is also very high on my wish list. Not even sure if this is possible to have done anywhere here in the netherlands. If not i'll travel anywhere to have it done. Going to discuss this with my ophthalmologist next time i see her. (Next week).

By the way the scleral lens fitter made a remark i find quite noteworthy. I mentioned possible nerve damage due to my lasek refractive surgery. She stated that she sees many of the unlucky few that end up with chronic dry eye after refractive surgery and almost a 100% of them have undergone lasik. She explained about the flap and all that. I already knew of course. She also said with lasek and a few other procedures i forgot the name of it is almost impossible to end up with permanent nerve damage because far less nerves have to be cut. I am actually the first non lasik patient to enter her office she said. Okay,so now i have become even more of a rarity. I wish i could have avoided the situation i am in..

[tealeaf]

Patrick,
what is the cause of your dry eyes? PRK?

With the scleral lens and having the occular surface wetter, will that help to improve the dry eyes condition in the long run?

[Jovver]

Sorry,submitted the previous post prematurely.
I wore the bandage lenses yesterday for about 10 hours and really couldn't feel them at all. Put in an artificial tear now and then.
At bed time i wanted to remove the lenses to store them in the container i got to keep them in overnight. The left lens came out easily,but the right refused to come off my eye. After a couple of minutes of trying it came off and left me with a very red eye. What a mess. Where is the time i only had to worry about brushing my teeth! This morning upon awakening all redness was gone.

I also want to go try autologous serum drops possibly initially together with flm drops (corticosteroid).
Because i still haven't given up trying to restore my own tearing function.
A confocal is also very high on my wish list. Not even sure if this is possible to have done anywhere here in the netherlands. If not i'll travel anywhere to have it done. Going to discuss this with my ophthalmologist next time i see her. (Next week).

By the way the scleral lens fitter made a remark i find quite noteworthy. I mentioned possible nerve damage due to my lasek refractive surgery. She stated that she sees many of the unlucky few that end up with chronic dry eye after refractive surgery and almost a 100% of them have undergone lasik. She explained about the flap and all that. I already knew of course. She also said with lasek and a few other procedures i forgot the name of it is almost impossible to end up with permanent nerve damage because far less nerves have to be cut. I am actually the first non lasik patient to enter her office she said. Okay,so now i have become even more of a rarity. I wish i could have avoided the situation i am in..

Nope, you're not alone, I've also had poor nerve regrowth following Lasek.

I'm not sure if what she said is completely accurate as my understanding is that nerve damage is less likely to occur but still not uncommon.

[patrick]

Patrick,
what is the cause of your dry eyes? PRK?

With the scleral lens and having the occular surface wetter, will that help to improve the dry eyes condition in the long run?

Hello tealeaf,

The probable cause of my dry eyes is lasek. Similar to prk. And i wore contact lenses for about 10 years (age 22 till 32) in the end i couldn't tolerate them anymore.

Not sure,but i guess when the ocular surface is kept wet constantly irritations will get less. As a result inflammations will get less to and that gives the corneas the opportunity to heal properly. This is my own theory though. Not really sure about it.

[tealeaf]

Not sure,but i guess when the ocular surface is kept wet constantly irritations will get less. As a result inflammations will get less to and that gives the corneas the opportunity to heal properly. This is my own theory though. Not really sure about it.

I have the same thoughts as you too. I suppose if the occular surface is kept wet, healing in all aspects (MGD, nerve, etc) should come.

All the very best with the use of sclera lens. I hope you will find comfort soon

[patrick]

Hi tealeaf,

Thank you! I have no intentions give up in any way. I am determined to defeat this condition.

All the very best for you to. Things will improve. Thats for sure. Keep the spirits up!..


Hi jovver,

You're quite right and my ophthalmologist is not completely accurate indeed.
Nerve damage is (much) more likely in lasik than in lasek and similar procedures,but it is still very possible to end up with permanent nerve damage to.

Patrick..