New Lenses and Stupid Questions

[Matthew_]

Hi Everyone!
Just got my rgps today..hip hip hip hooray!
Wow, what a difference! I thought the biggest change would be getting back on the PC but I actually found the outside world in particular had a new depth and clarity. The main thing I had suffered with was double vision and the loss of 3D vision. The former was pretty obvious but I didn't realise how bad the latter had got. I had been anxious driving but couldn't really work out why. Now I can appreciate that my distance judgement was very poor. I am not driving again without lenses!!!!
Anyway, had a couple of questions:

1. I have been supplied with a 'starter pack' excluding saline. I went to ASDA to pick up some saline and noticed it was cheaper than the main brands. What's the difference? Its only saline how can the leading brands justify a higher price? I think the concentrations are similar.

2. There is a whole range of ASDA branded solutions etc. These are much cheaper too. I remember somebody posting that the ASDA stuff is OK. Anybody tried ASDA solutions?

3. I have been told to build up on one hour a day up till eight hours. I found I could easily manage 2 hours and probably 3 on day 1. Should I stick to the plan, or can I push up my lens use if I am confortable?

Would be grateful for feedback.

[Andrew MacLean]

Well done, Matthew. Glad to know your lenses have arrived and that they are alreadly a big help.

1. I have been supplied with a 'starter pack' excluding saline. I went to ASDA to pick up some saline and noticed it was cheaper than the main brands. What's the difference? Its only saline how can the leading brands justify a higher price? I think the concentrations are similar.

They put their saline into prettier bottles, and they put well known brand names onto the nice bottles they use.

2. There is a whole range of ASDA branded solutions etc. These are much cheaper too. I remember somebody posting that the ASDA stuff is OK. Anybody tried ASDA solutions?

I don't know about ASDA own brand stuff. The thing with lens fluids is that you find something that suits (expecially for the wetting stage just as you put the lens into your eye) and stick with it. I found that I could get solutions that suited me in Tesco.

3. I have been told to build up on one hour a day up till eight hours. I found I could easily manage 2 hours and probably 3 on day 1. Should I stick to the plan, or can I push up my lens use if I am confortable?

I know your optometrist! I'd stick to the plan, or at least pretend that you did when she asks "have you been overdoing it with the lenses?"

[GarethB]

Mattew,

Welcome back to the worl of the sighted

Regarding saline, supermarkets generally sell the generic type which is bog standard saline. you then have the preservative free salines and pH balanced salines which in some cases do not sell as well so no incentive for the supermarkets to have their own brand of preservative free or pH balanced.

As to solutions I know many opticians dispense a starter pack that is of their preffered solution. Again supermarkets are much the same, but some of the named brands do have substle differences regarding any preservatives and pH balance, I think usually down to copyright and possibly patents.

I tried different solutions but still came back to the Boston which was the starter pack from the hospita which made my lenses more comfortable.

So with regards to changing solutions, it is a case of either dont fix what aint broke or suck it and see

I would say follow the plan with getting used to lenses. In the past people have posted they had preveously worn soft and then worn harder lenses for longer than they should and suddenly found they hurt like anything and had trouble opeing their eyes to get the lenses out. Probably a rare occurance, but best to play it safe.

[Alison Fisher]

Great news Matthew.

I've no advice on the lens front as it is so long since I last wore any but your description of your rapidly improved vision made me smile and brought back a lot of memories. It really is amazing isn't it? When I got new lenses I would walk round with my mouth hanging open in wonder at the colours and textures I could suddenly see, pointing them all out to my hubbie - who I think was more concerned about all the strange looks we were getting.

Good luck with your lenses. I hope they work out well for you.

[Amarpal]

Its great having the lenses for the first time with the difference that it makes!

I have used Asda solutions, and have to say they are as good as the Boston solutions that I normally use- however, that is just for me, I would go for the solution that best suits you. I feel the Boston solution gives the best wettability and comfort during the day, but try different solutions and you will soon find out which is for you.

As for price, I used to buy the Asda soltuion becuase it was cheaper, but I find that buyng the multipack of Boston or any other solution works out as around the same price. And this way you have a plentiful supply of the stuff and wont run out when you need it! As for the saline, they are all the same in my opinion, some are for sensitive eyes etc, but I'm suire you'll be fine with the ordinary stuff!

[John Smith]

That's probably true about Saline used to rinse lenses, but not for filling sclerals.

I know that some salines are not as eye-compatible as others, and can cause redness when used in a scleral lens.

I'd always advise using the recommened filler for scleral lenses (which is generally Amidose, Normasol, Steripod blue or occasionally celluvisc).

[Andrew MacLean]

When I had my scleral provided the hospital clinic gave me a bottle of saline for filling purposes.

I was to use Total Care for cleaning, saline for rinsing and filling and store the lens dry.

[Matthew_]

Thanks a lot guys!
This is great...I'm loving it! It came to home when I looked out of my office window across the harbour. I could see the pennant number on a ship about a mile away, the number is about 2 feet high. When I looked again without lenses, I couldn't see the ship! The ship is over a 100 metres long!!
Anyway, I think I will ease up on the lens use. Afterall, following the plan I will still be up to 8 hours in just over a week. My eye-lids felt a bit sore this morning, a warning I feel.
I'm gonna try the Asda stuff and see how I get on.
Thanks for your help. (I might slip my lenses in for Torchwood tonight!)

[Matthew_]

Hey everyone,
Digging up an old thread sorry!
Just got some stuff from ASDA (cleaner and conditioner plus saline). I compared the ingredients with Boston. Not only the same ingredients but also the same proportions and listed in the same order. In fact, it looked like the ingredients had been cut and pasted from one bottle to the next. What is more, looking at the bottles they were the same shape and size, just different labels. Even the lids were the same.
It reminded me of when I visited a fish factory (bear with me). I noticed that when the fish were filleted, sometimes different sides of the same fish ended up in different lines (one for Tesco say and another for Sainsburys). The different sides of the same fish were packaged and priced according to the brand. Therefore, you could pay a pound more the Sainsburys left side of salmon than the Tesco right side of the same fish!!!
I am suspicious!!
Incidentally, the Asda conditioner is fine, just as comfortable for me.

[GarethB]

Boston also make the Boots solution but I found these more comparable with the 'Old' Boston solution and not the Advance.

If you buy the Boots 3 month solution pack, the case inside is exactly the same as the Boston, infact it too had Bausch & Lomb.

When I compared the old Boston with the new Advance, the ingredients are the same, but the differences are subtle changes in the amounts of each ingredient and the purity used.

No need to be suspiceous, Bausch and lomb are just making there 'generic' product for others to sell at their own price.