UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I have a new RGP in my right eye, which hasn't had a new fitting in about 20 years. My previous lens had degraded and the edges were lifting off causing a couple of lens-over-eyeball-stuck in socket numbers which meant a trip to another eye hospital with relatives.
I haven't been wearing it for a full week yet, it's day 5 or 6 but it's a bit prickly. I know the score, it needs a bit of time because it's a slightly different fit but my anxiety is very high because it's my 'seeing' eye so I'm wholly reliant on it and any untypical sensations feed directly into mental health issues, so I'm just saying it out loud I'm anxious.

Louise

Well done going for this new lens; I hope the unusual sensations settle down quickly, but if they do not I'd not hesitate to go back to the clinic to have things checked.

Andrew

I think I'm going to have to take it back Andrew, I've really tried hard but I just can't tolerate the discomfort, it's at the top of the lens, like from 11 - 2.00 position, I can't do it anymore, I've put my old lens back in.

Has piggybacking been suggested at any point?

not yet

Lou,

I'm sorry to hear that your new lens isn't working; refits never seem to be straightforward.

A couple of thoughts:

As you haven't had a refit on this eye for some time the old lens has probably changed slightly since it was originally prescribed so it isn't quite as simple as tweaking the old prescription. Three years ago when my right was refitted, after five years of wearing the same lens, I was warned that it might take a few attempts to get the correct fitting.

If the design of the new lens is different from the old lens you may need to gradually build up the wear time as the lens may be sitting on a different part of the cornea. I was told to do this when changing to a lens of a slightly smaller diameter.

I hope that you don't have to wait too long to get an appointment to get it checked out.

Lia

Thanks Lia, that's helpful because I've been taunted by the worst case scenario's i.e. lens intolerance/graft failure. Anything which threatens my 'seeing' eye panics me. It's easy to think well it's just another RGP but I don't know how much different the fit is. Thank goodness I kept the old lens because I've had to go back to that. I'm just going to walk in there and explain the problem

Ask them about a reverse geometry lens. It sounds like the lens was not fitting properly and you have edge lift. I have that problem on my left eye so it takes months to get a lens that will work. You could try a mini scleral lens if that smaller lens won't work. Good luck.

I've not heard of reverse geometry. Yes there was edge lift on the 'old' degraded one which I have had to go back to wearing. I'd rather have a replacement of my old lens I think. Yes it carries the risk of going over my eyeball and needing to be fished out, and grit gets under it when I'm out [but so can any RGP] but I'd rather live with that. Sclerals I'd need Class A drugs to use them....[sorry Ken]

Good luck Louise - it's not an easy route whichever way us KC people go. I know exactly what you mean about the worries when you are "one eye dependent" and that is the one you are having difficulties with.I also really get what you mean re. Scleral lenses & Ken. Ken and his lenses are really amazing for some people - his enthusiasm alone carries you along on a wave of optimism. Despite his smiles, patience and encouragement we never got beyond the "putting me in a head lock and trying to fit a frisbee on a ping pong ball" scenario! Stick with it Zlouose and follow your instinct - you know what does and dowsn't feel right & don't let others tell you otherwise.
Jez