UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Think this question has been asked before, but I will ask anyway as I need some help.

What is the technique for putting an RGP corneal lens into your eye one handed?

Two hands for inserting the right lens is OK as my left hand is only used to pull the top lid up.

Only get one crack at this otherwise my shoulder and elbow become too uncomfortable.

The left lens is the one I need to put in one handed. Had real trouble this morning, about 20 minutes getting left lens in before coming to work. Just could not hold my hand steady enough and with the residual solution on the lens, it just kept shaking off my finger! The otehr problem was that with the shake could not get the bottom eye lid out of the way and the shaking finger would sometines just miss my eye.

Reason for shaky left arm is that after a car accident on Friday I tweaked the median nerve between my elbow and wrist as well as wrenching the my shoulder, elbow and wrist.

Just done some work and the joints are tingling again!

Hopefuly this will not last too long.

I am sorry you are still suffering Gareth.

Not that I've tried it, I would think you could pull down the lower part of the eye socket down far enough with your forefinger to enable the lens to be inserted with the index finger; then a bit of moving it around to get it onto the cornea.

The one handed method I use is to rest the nail side of my thumb against my cheek and then with the lens sitting on the end of my index finger slowly move the finger towards the eye and pop the lens in. I don't hold my eyelids open with my fingers but just stare straight ahead.

I hope you feel better soon,

Lia

Thanks Lia,

Does that work for when you effectivly bring the hand across in fron of your nose?

Hi Gareth

Back in the olden days when I was still fighting with RGPs I used to do the following.

Thumb to push lower eye lid down. Index finger to push the upper lid upwards and middle finger to poke myself in the eye when the lens falls off it.

It does work if you patient and have good dexterity.

Drew

Thanks Drew,

Have some thoughts now and will get up early tomorrow and practice.

Dexterity is a slight issue from a work related injury which the accident has agrevated. The right arm is the better of the two so I shall see how it goes.

Will be finishing wok soon, 10 hours on a Bank Holiday is not my idea of fun!

Hi Gareth,

The method is slightly different for the other eye. It's really a case of resting part of the hand on the face and then being able to use the index finger as an easily controlled lever to pop the lens in.

Lia

I should have said lower the lower eye lid rather than the socket in my previous post.
I tried it this morning and it worked ok for me.