In trouble...only contacts I can wear have changed

[calli66]

Zarla-

You should try to find an optometrist (or optician) who will test out trial lenses on you. There's no way, just by reading strength, water content, and base-curve numbers that you can choose the right lens from an on-line vendor. For your eye health, comfort, and vision requirements---please get the help of a professional.

Although I quit wearing contacts 3 months ago, I found the ProClear lenses performed well even with dry eyes (I have 2mm Shirmer's). Also, BioMedics XC are made from the same material and cost less. ProClears are also available for astigmatism correction (more expensive).

There are many new lens types available now than there were in the 90s--more comfortable and more healthy for the eyes. Sometimes you have to try 5 or 6 different brands to find the right one for you.

Calli

[Zarla]

Hi Calli - You are fortunate to be based in the USA. I am in London, UK. We really don't have the same kind of opticians here unless they are working in eye hospitals. They're more like shops, pushing promoted products. Last time I was there they tried me on monthlies, dailies, then told me I couldn't wear contact lenses (the old-fashioned vial lenses like zero 6 are 'dangerous' in their view).

[Rebecca Petris]

Zarla, have you tried a place called Matheson's Optometrists. They have several locations in the southeast and have a very good reputation.

[Zarla]

Hi Rebecca, I haven't tried these but will see if there is one in my area. I was interested in your comment on your eyes being less dry with contacts in as I feel that too. They are always going to be a dry and a bit painful but they seem even worse with glasses. So far in my lenses search I've ordered Optima 38 Sp (a 9.1 base curve) and Durasoft opaque. I have never worn coloured contacts before but the measurements match up.

[Stanza]

my eyes couldn't tolerate durasoft at all, the material was awful for me, but I think if you can wear the zero 6 for 12 hours you've loads of hope to find a replacement as they really aren't dry eye designed, so it's just a case of keeping trying I guess. I struggle to get to 5 hours in mine and I only wear them on a good eye day.

not sure on the thing about soft lenses making your eyes feel better, I'm sure I've read somewhere that's a false friend, can't remember now where I saw that.

[Zarla]

Most of the durasoft range was too high in water content, but for some reason this particular one had the same as zero 6 (38% and made of polycmer like the z6). It might still be crap and I definitely couldn't wear opaque coloured for my job. The softer colours and the clear lenses had a different water content. I have some hope for the optima. When I say 'tolerate for 12 hours' I'm not talking pain free - I always have some dry eye related pain in the evenings and have had for 10 years!! I don't know why i put !!! there; I guess some things you just have to think are funny and live with or you'd be crying all the time. But, as I say, the pain was worse with glasses so I just keep the contacts in.

[Rebecca Petris]

I was interested in your comment on your eyes being less dry with contacts in as I feel that too.

I'm not sure what comment you're referring to. Soft contacts are sometimes used as bandage lenses, but not normally on a long-term basis. Scleral lenses (large gas permeables that do not rest on the cornea) are sometimes used as a treatment for dry eyes. I wear sclerals both because of special vision needs and for dry eye.

I think that with any use of contact lenses on dry eyes, good professional guidance and supervision is extremely important.

[Silverlady]

Quetion Rebecca

Can sclerals correct astigmatism also? I'm currently wearing the bandage lens Dr. G just put on me. He did measurements for the gas permeable sclerals. Actually mini sclerals I believe. (not sure if that's what they are called). The bandage lens do not correct my vision much because of my astigmatism. I still wear progressive Panoptx over them. But my husband asked me if the mini sclerals would correct my vision and I'm not sure. I hate to bother Dr. G again. I've not been an easy patient I fear.

Billye

[dianat]

Billye,

It was my understanding in my contact lens travels of yesteryear that RGPs were the way to correct astigmatism.

So, lucky you, you now have my opinion on a topic in which I have absolutely no qualifications. But, at least we've preserved your relationship with Dr. G. Rebecca can take it from here. I just saw that you addressed her specifically.

Diana

[Rebecca Petris]

Can sclerals correct astigmatism also?

Absolutely - in fact their origins and primary use is specifically related to their ability to correct large amounts of astigmatism. Sclerals have historically been used mostly for people with keratoconus who end up with far too much astigmatism to be correctible by any other means. They are also used in cornea transplant patients, who often have very high amounts of astigmatism after the transplant.

[Silverlady]

Sclerals and Astigmatism

I thank you and Dr. G probably thanks you. (I've had a million and one questions for him and can't seem to remember anything, or so my husband says, (we differ on this) I'd sure like to have my vision corrected without glasses. We'll see.

What about bifocal lens in the sclerals? Are readers still required?

Billye