Originally posted by Hokucat
View Post
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Unbearable dry eyes
Collapse
X
-
-
That's great, I'm so happy for you!
Yes, be picky about the fit. I've read sometimes larger lenses are more confortable, mines are 18mm. If you get fitted for another pair of lenses, hopefully they will let you keep this pair as a back up, in case you damage one of your lenses in the future.
Comment
-
Went to my doc today and he was impressed with the (current) healthy condition of my eyes. The sclerals are working great, even after only wearing them for five days now. Yesterday I had them in for 10 hours (including 2 hours spent in cinema which is usually horrific conditions for me), and no complaints! I'm removing them once or twice a day to refill them with the solution. We've put a treatment with doxy in the freezer for now. I'm seeing the contact lense specialist on Friday to double check the fitting of the sclerals. Finally this is going somewhere!
Comment
-
Hi WVM, thanks for sharing great news! Could you tell me
1) brand name for such sclerals lens, type (half ?), market prices, how long you need to change a new pair?
2) any special qualitifcations to wear such lens?
3) does it mean with such lens, you dont need to do warm compress, no need drops etc??
strangely, none of 10 doctors ever mentioned it to me. Maybe they have no clue too?? Thanks!
Comment
-
Hi WVM,
It's so inspiring to hear how quickly you've adjusted to sclerals, and that they are helping the surface of your eyes. Just last month when you initially posted, you were really struggling, now look where you are!
Just don't forget to keep looking for and ultimately treating the cause of your MGD, because if that continues to worsen, at some point you might not be able to wear your sclerals.
Hi MGD1701,
Yes, would think your doctors would have brought it up as an option! Scleral posts are all over this forum, so you can learn alot here and try pursuing yourself, if interested.
Note sclerals help manage symptoms, but do not usually resolve the underlying condition, especially not MGD. However, the ability to quickly feel relief with sclerals like WVM, can be a major step in getting some of your life back.
Sclerals are nickel-sized, dome-shaped rigid gas permeable lenses that vault over the cornea to bathe them with saline, and the lens edges sit on the sclera/white part of the eye. They have become more mainstream in successfully managing dry eyes and other eye problems, while also correcting vision. Usually the main reason you would need to change them is for the vision.
Below is a good description of sclerals in general from Boston PROSE sclerals. I happen to wear PROSE lenses and have been extremely happy with them and my PROSE specialist, but there are other different brands of lenses like Europa/Jupiter, EyePrintPro, etc. What is key in successfully getting fitted is the expertise, experience, and training of the specialist.
http://www.bostonsight.org/PROSE/PRO...y-Eye-Syndrome
A scleral specialist would do a consult first, to see if you are a good candidate. At the consult, you typically try on a trial pair(s) of sclerals for an hour or so to see if you can tolerate them (not everyone can), and if the lenses make your eyes feel better. If you are deemed a good candidate and agree to proceed, there's a fitting process where they order custom lenses you try for a period, ordering new ones if the comfort/fit is not sufficient. Fittings can take several tries. So the costs usually consist of a consult, fitting, and scleral lens fee, if you go all the way. I've heard the total costs of everything ranging from around $2,000 to $10,000, and could be covered by insurance if deemed a medical necessity. Mine was. Often the fitting fee is the largest cost because it can take several tries. For an update due to vision changes, usually you only pay for the exam and cost of the lens, like you would for glasses or regular contacts.
Continuing regimens like warm compresses, drops, etc. are important while using sclerals, but can be specific to the individual and the on-going status of their condition. If you have MGD, likely you would continue compresses or whatever works to help your oils flow, otherwise glands can get further blocked, atrophy, and things like your sclera the lens sits on may get too dry to wear the sclerals anymore. Many continue using artificial tears for added comfort over their sclerals while wearing them and when not. However, since sclerals bathe your corneas in saline the entire time wearing them, some no longer need drops while they have the lenses on. Also, if the lenses help heal their cornea, they may also not use drops as often when not wearing lenses.
I no longer need warm compresses or drops, mainly due to the combination of 1)addressing my root cause with first unblocking my glands with probing and then maintaining the oil flow with the lemon/green tea (that works for me), AND 2)managing the moderate remaining dryness due atrophy of some glands by using sclerals 12+ hours a day. So often sclerals is not the only solution, but part of a combination of treatments/factors.
The PROSE link above also has their fitting locations. Here is a link Rebecca sent out last month in one of her KeratoScoop emails, which lists resources for scleral fitters, not particular to a specific brand. There are some listed outside the U.S.:
https://www.sclerallens.org/scleral-fittersLast edited by Hokucat; 25-Apr-2017, 15:08.
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by MGD1701 View PostHi WVM, thanks for sharing great news! Could you tell me
1) brand name for such sclerals lens, type (half ?), market prices, how long you need to change a new pair?
2) any special qualitifcations to wear such lens?
3) does it mean with such lens, you dont need to do warm compress, no need drops etc??
strangely, none of 10 doctors ever mentioned it to me. Maybe they have no clue too?? Thanks!
No problem, I'll definitely stick around on this forum to share my experience with this horrible disease. Hopefully I'll be able to help some people with the things I've learned. To answer your questions:
1. I'm not sure about the brand. I'll ask on Friday when I see the doctor again. They were prescribed to me in the hospital and they handled everything for me. The price here is €1150 EUR for one lense, but the insurance covers it completely (I'm from The Nertherlands). I've heard - if I maintain them properly - that my sclerals could last for 2 years, after which a new pair will be covered by the insurance again.
2. Not as far as I know. They feel like very high quality materials and are highly tolerable. They can also easily correct my astigmatism. I can see very clearly through the lense. It just takes a lot of practice to put them in and remove them because they're huge! I wear 18.5 mm sized sclerals. But I got the hang of it after a few days.
3. I still do warm compress and drops in the morning because I still have a lot of pain when I wake up. I don't use any drops while wearing the sclerals but I do take them out approximately every four hours to refill them with a neutral solution that hydrates the eye and lense. When I remove my sclerals in the evening, I use drops again, but less than before. Before sleep I still apply Dureatears eye gel.
Hope that answers your questions. Definitely ask your doctor about sclerals lenses!
- 1 like
Comment
-
Hi WVM, thanks a lot for the details. Seems Netherlands has great insurance system and eye care service/products. Lucky you!
About your morning pain
It suggests your eye gel is not suitable or lid scrubs problem. Perhaps just add a pair of swimming goggle - it helps me.
Better improve it otherwise might hurt conera. I often had such pain in the past and now seldom.
I use EvoTears (other oil-based drops will do too, I suppose).
One MD suggested here in the forum: wash eyelids with running ''warm/hot water'' (10-20 times) - to get ride of bacteria/dirts etc.
Then better do a bit of massage + lid scrubs too, in my view.
Look fowrward to the brand/model names so I can consult doctor. Thanks!Last edited by MGD1701; 01-May-2017, 13:32.
Comment
-
Originally posted by MGD1701 View PostOne MD suggested here in the forum: wash eyelids with running warm/hot water (10-20 times) - to get ride of bacteria/dirts etc.
Then better do a bit of massage + lid scrubs too, in my view.
Lid scrubs containing tea tree oil, which eradicates Demodex, are also marketed for the treatment of MGD based on a suggested pathophysiologic role of infestation with these mites. Understanding of the relationship between Demodex and MGD is incomplete and there is a lack of good scientific evidence supporting use of tea tree oil scrubs for MGD treatment alone.
Tea tree oil also has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial, and it has been shown to reduce symptoms of surface inflammation.
Sufferer due to Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.
Avatar art by corsariomarcio
- 1 like
Comment
-
Good points, PhoenixEyes. so one needs to figure out the suitable temperature and frequency, maybe 5 times will do too??
Dry hands? my dr suggests oil based hand cleanser - pretty good.
Lid scrubs - I recently found a great product - soapfree tea tree oil shampoo, without parfum/conservatives and my eyes are ok with it. Seems helpful too!
eye cream/lotion - my dr says I should keep 1cm distance from eyes, for your info.
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by MGD1701 View PostDry hands? my dr suggests oil based hand cleanser - pretty good.
Originally posted by MGD1701 View PostLid scrubs - I recently found a great product - soapfree tea tree oil shampoo, without parfum/conservatives and my eyes are ok with it. Seems helpful too!Sufferer due to Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.
Avatar art by corsariomarcio
- 1 like
Comment
-
Soap-free Tee Tree Oil Shampoo/Shower Gel, Brand: Bergland, Tee Baum Shampoo & Duschgel.
I have tried many, this is the best. http://www.bergland.de/bergland/prod...productId=4778
They also have facial water with alcohol.Last edited by MGD1701; 01-May-2017, 06:04.
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by MGD1701 View PostHi WVM,
Just curious - did your dr recommend you do LipiFlow? If not, why?
Does he/she thinks scleral lens are the solution for you then?
Do you know if there are any side-effect from scleral lens? Thanks a lot!
No, LipiFlow was never discussed. The doctor does not think scleral lenses are the solution for my problem, but they do believe they can reduce the pain and irritation I'm having. I have not encountered any side-effects from sclerals so far.
Scleral lenses are still helping a lot, but today I'm having a lot of trouble with mucus covering the surface of the lense. Very annoying. I've noticed that mucus (I have tons of discharge: clear, long stringy goo) sticks to the scleral lense. This did not happen with my soft contact lenses.
Anyone know an European vendor that sells Theratears nutrition or any alternative? Can't get it shipped to The Netherlands from most websites.
Thanks,
W.
- 1 like
Comment
Comment