New to this Great site

[gerry1]

Hello to all. I’m new to the site and find my heart saddened by some of the member problems. I’m retired and in my late fifties. Even though I experience the vision and constant doctor visits, I still consider myself lucky to drive and enjoy so many wonderful God given gifts. So many of you are so young and severe! At the Clev Clinic I had Lasik, AK and other surgeries. I’m left with corneal ectesia (irreg astig). I had made from a firm in the west specialty rigid gas permeable contact lenses and wear Rx glasses daily. I use a non Rx soft contact lens to help with the comfort level in my left eye which is placed under the scleral lens. I can only wear my left soft/ hard contact in my left eye about six hours (or less) each day. They start to burn, sting and feel gritty. Often I can still continue to wear my right scleral lens and keep my glasses on. If I use only prescription glasses, everything is blurry and my acuity is distorted. I need both contacts and glasses. My main problems in both eyes – stinging, burning and often feeling like sand is in my eyes. I use all different treatments- Blink, Refresh Liquigel, Blink & Clean, Replenish, saline solution, etc. I’ve tried many different brands. In the morning I use OCuSoft Lid scrub. For my soft lens, I use Opti-Free Replenish . . . For my hard lens, I alternate between Optimum by Lobob, regular Boston, and Boston Simplus. My eyes seem to get sensitive (slight burning) to the products (this is why I alternate). I wish to wear my lenses longer but the uncomfortable feeling is just too much to overcome! I’m not overweight but have type II diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. At most I eat healthy meals and snacks. I take meds for my diabetes and cholesterol. I’m not a new comer to medicine . . . I was in the medical field for thirty-four years before retiring. Any help or suggestions wanted! I have read so many of your comments and will try. Thanks to all!

[liz56]

Welcome.

Hi, Gerry1.

Sorry to hear about all of your problems. It sounds like you are pretty pro-active in getting them under control. I'd recommend reading how Rebecca uses Dr. Holly's various drops with her scleral lenses. The drops really help an uneven epithelium and are worth a try. I do not wear sclerals, but I do have problems with my corneal, and the drops help a lot. If you have dryness problems at night, do you use a mask or goggles?

--Liz

[lindalou]

I don't have answers for you, but just wanted to lend a comforting hand from a parent of a 3 year old with eye "issues", who is also a patient a the Cleveland Clinic/Cole Eye Institute.