UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi Guys,
I am trying Kerasoft Lenses to see if there is an improvement in comfort on rgps which didn't like me much.
They arrived through the post today and I am trying them out right now. So far so good, better vision and a bit itchy but not out and out irritation.
I have no instructions with them. I was wondering if any one can advise me on the following:

Cleaning (solutions / technique)
Storing (solutions / what sort of case (they are maahooosive!)
Compatibility with artificial tears
How long do they last ie do they need replacing periodically?


I am currently using a peroxide based cleaner (easysept)
Be grateful for any info
Thanks

Hi Matthew
Sorry - don't know anything about Kerasoft lenses themselves but I do use soft lenses (a special thick Igel lens made by the same people - as well as some new ones I am trialling at the moment- and I think is very similar in terms of what it is made of) and I would imagine the cleaning/storing routine is pretty much the same. Essentially you can use any solution specifically made for soft lenses (my optician recomends Optifree Replenish) and all you do is rub them gently on your palm in solution for 20 seconds and then rinse them and then store them in solution in a FLAT lens case (most solutions come with a case or you can buy them in Boots ). The lenses are "massive" compared to RGP's aren't they - but sooooo much more comfortable!

My igel lenses have a life of 12- 15 months. I use Systane as my " artificial tears" and I always wait for at least half an hour (usually nearer an hour) before putting my lenses in after using Systane. You will need to check though with whatever you use.

The main criteria for which disinfecting solution you use though is your own eyes! (Don't know anything about Oxysept - sorry!) There are many on the market (including Supermarket own brands) and I guess as long as your eyes don't react to them you can use whatever you want. I have tried several and I seem to be fairly lucky as none have adversely affected my eyes so far. However, my (new) optom also recomends rinsing soft lenses in Saline before you put them in your eye - he says that minimises the risk of solutions causing any other problems - after all they are all chemicals!

Hope that helps - let us know how you get on.

Pat x

Thanks Pat, that does help as it confirms my suspicion that I can use off-the-shelf solutions etc. I have stored them in saline for now. The solution I use for my rgps (EasySept) is a peroxide solution which neutralises itself via a catalytic disc in the case. The label say 'suitable for all soft lenses' but because of the peroxide element, I want to find out for definite whether it can be used with kerasoft lenses.
I think we have the same problem with sensitivity, Pat. The Kerasoft are so much better. I got 5 hours yesterday, no problem. I will try them again once I sort out the cleaning regime. But there is a trade-off. Day-time vision is actually better, better depth and TV watching is greatly improved. But there is a bit of double-vision (not much) and halo effect, which I didn't have with rgps. I found driving at night a bit tricky so I would have to stick with rgps for that or (more likely given my rgp tolerance not drive at night). Generally however, I can live with the minor KC effects to be able to wear them for more than an hour! Graft in Novemeber anyway, so who knows after that

Matthew

Since Kerasoft lenses are non-disposable soft lenses, your preoxide based solution is ideal for them. An "all-in-one" is fine for disposables but not enough to keep "permanent" lenses clean unless you do frequent surface cleaning with specialised cleaning.

As to how long they last - they can last up to 18 months - 2 years - but this depends entirely on how you keep them clean and whether your tear film tends to create deposits on them.

If you are getting ghosting at night, you may just need the prescription tweaking.. are you due to go back for a check up in a week or so?

Glad to hear you are getting more wearing time!

Lynn

Lyn,
Thanks very much for your help. Excellent. I have put them in the solution and I'm waiting for the 6 hours to elapse to try them out again. I have more appointments until November (actually its 3 days after my graft, so I may have to re-arrange). The order time for the Kerasoft lenses was quite long, so I think we left it open-ended. I will trial them some more this week and then phone the Contact Lens Clinic for a 'tweak'. If I could reduce the halo effect, they would be superb. But I'm just enjoying good eyesight and comfort. I am noticing that my eyes chuck a lot of proteins at the lenses and they get to a point where you cannot see out. I think that is a factor of the sensitivity of my eyes, which is why I am going down the graft route (as well as some professional considerations).
Thanks so much for your help!
What's the Trinidad connection by the way (if its not prying). I had my 21st Birthday in Port of Spain, I loved the place. Shame I never went back and that was a long time ago!

How long did you wear the lenses berfore they started getting gunged up (nice technical term that!)?

Trinidad ..... I lived and worked there for a while and am now married to a Trini, so its like a second home to me now. I used to live just outside POS. Brilliant place! You'll have to go back for Carnival!!

Lynn

Yeah, must be great. Must be great to have a connection to it too. I imagine carnival time must be amazing. I thought it was such a friendly place and there was music everywhere.
I am getting gunge after a couple of hours and some floaters developing before this. I can shift it with saline. I have had them in for 3 hours now and its a bit misty. Still, early days and no actual discomfort.

Matthew

I got misting after about three hours and when removed this produced a rainbow coloured halo round lights. For me this was due to water logging of the cornea due to lack of oxygen.

Past couple months been working with a contac lens manufacturer and Tuesday we briefly tried a higher oxygen transmitting soft lens. Hopefully in a couple weeks I will be trying a proper made lens in this material and overcome the centering issue I get with most lenses. This is why I have not posted for ages, too busy with other KC related things which with any luck will help many here in the long run.

Need to remove some bits of information from the pictures before I post any topographies and there are a few after getting through six pairs soft lenses and having all sorts of measuremnets and films made of the lens fit. Most time is spent sat down looking at a slit lamp and no proding and poking your eyes like a visit to the optoms. The new soft material they were using was the most comfortable lens I have ever tried, the lens was so smooth the surface felt almost frictionless and because I was not used to them initially had trouble handling them.

I am sure the company doing the research would welcome more volunteers to help with their lens development, so far there is the R&D director who has mild and straightforward KC (if there is such a thing), he gets good vision with glasses anyways and me with my KC in grafted eyes which in themselves are vastly different!

Regards

Gareth

Matthew

In the short time that I had kerasoft lenses I used to fill the lens with saline when inserting them. This felt a bit like putting my eye into an eyebath, but it meant that I iknew that there was an even film of solution between my eye and the lens.

All t he best with these lenses: I hope that they work out for you.

Andrew