UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi there, the past month has been annoying to say the least, my new gas permiable lens popped out just as I was getting used to it (not the first time it did it) and is now lost for good. Since I have lost it I have noticed my vision in my right eye is much worse than it was when I started popping the lens in, so what I want to know is, is this a side effect of wearing a contact lens? or could it be my eye going through a spurt? I haven't worn the lens much at all really.

also, in the last week I have got a black squiggly line on my vision, (kind of looks like a mini skinny tadpole), its the right eye again and is located near the bottom of my field of view and follows my eye movement, but sometimes it will float upwards. and in last couple of days I have noticed a similar paralel to it but more faint. If I catch these floaters in the light and manage to get a good look they look transparant in places. I am used to floaters, but not black ones, so I am a little concerned. Is this regular with any of you guys? My optitian said to be careful putting my lens in incase I scratch the cornea and get scarring, she said I could end up with black spots (I have noticed some of these time to time but they seem to come and go). Unfortunately I have had some nightmare occurances putting lenses in leaving my eye in hurting like hell! So I'm kinda hoping it isn't related to that. I've looked on some websites but all that has managed to do scare me by saying my retina could be detaching!

Looks like I definately need to see my opitian asap, but any feedback from you guys would also be greatly appreciated!

Cheers

Lens popping out might be that the fit of a new lens isn't quite right which is quite common, we need several fittings before we get a lens that is right.

Side effect of lens wear can be your brain gets used to having extremely good vision and when you take the lens out the brain has forgotten how to compensate like it did before so you get the impression things have got far worse.

I notice that alot now since chaging from RGP lenses to soft lenses for KC, now if I go without lenses I get headaches because now I amused to perfect vision for all my waking hours when before it was for about half to two thirds of my waking hours but from visits to the optom there has been no change in my cornea.

If you are worried and having problems with lenses which it sounds you are, there is no harm in having a return visit to your optom. What will be helpful to them is exact details regarding circumstances the lens falls out. If my RGP lens was to pop out it was due to rapid eye movement playing computer games with my daughter, especially if I moved my eye rapidly from the extremes of left to right. I tought myself to move my head more and after a while it became second nature.

Hope this helps.

Hi Josh,

Black squigglies that move are not related to your RGPs. Normal floaters are due to changes in the gel that fills the bulk of your eye and most people have them and they are not any kind of issue except annoying.

However, as you say, a sudden onset of floaters especially in conjunction with flashing lights CAN be an indication of detachment. No-one can tell without looking in your eye whether they are totally harmless on an indication of something more serious. So everyone who notices a sudden increase in floaters should have a check up asap just in case. This is because if they ARE due to a detachment, this can be quickly treated. Detachments that are left several days tend to be much more tricky and can lead to vision loss.

So going to your optom is a "rather be safe than sorry" situation - if you have not gone yet - go now!

Lynn

I get a lot of the "black tadpole" type of floater..
I always find they are more noticeable in spring/summer when the sunlight is brighter - I think they show up more in bright daylight than on dull gloomy days.
Is it possible you are noticing them more recently because we've just had some spring sunny weather???
I've mentioned them several times at the hospital and they've never been bothered.
However, if there are flashes too, that needs looking into. Fortunately, I don't. Well, only when getting up too quickly!
DO get they checked out if theya re worrying you - the chances are they aren't a problem, only anuisance to peer through.
ROsemary

Thanks ever so much for your replies and advice. I got the floaters checked out and was told it was down to jelly and aging of the eye. Glad it' was nothing more serious. It's such a pain watching my eyesight get worse..but hey. Just need to get a decent lens fitted now.