General questions

[Will Burchell]

Hi there,
I found out I had KC a couple of years ago but after trawling round opticians it is only now I have got a contact lens prescription that seems to be close to working.
My vision in my left eye is still pretty good so I have a soft lens in there. My right eye is not so good so I have an RGP lens.
My question is, how long did it take people to get used to the RGP lens and get a feel for how good their vision was going to be with it?
At the moment, I can tell its a lot sharper than glasses but everytime I blink it moves around and my vision distorts a little. Couple this witht he fact that my eyes are watering quite a lot and I can't really tell how good my vision is going to be.
How long should I leave it to get an accurate idea?
Thanks for your help,
Will

[Drew Radcliffe]

Hi Will

Welcome to the Forum.

I am sure you'll get a few other answers to this question as well.

Fitting hard lenses is an art and as you have experienced you have to go looking hard for an optometrist that can do it well.

Even so its very common to have to try two or three lenses before the fit is spot on.

If your eyes are watering heavily, you have pain or little correction this can be an indication that the lens fit isn't opitimum i'd phone your optometrist for some guidance it may be you need time for them to settle down, increase wear time etc. but they are best placed to guide you with this.

I'd also wait to see what the others say its a few years since I wore the lenses you have now and things may have changed a little

Take care

Drew

[GarethB]

Hi Will,

Welcome.

If you have notworn RGP lenses before, it will take a couple of weeks. Generally we are recomened to start with 2 hours and build up an hour per day to a max of 8 hours. Then week on week add an extra hour to a max of 12 hours with a rest one day per week.

Lens fitting can take time and initially with some of us we produce loads of tears as we get used to a large foreign object in our eye so the lens moves round a lot on a bed of tears.

If the fit is good, this movement will reduce but a degree of movement is needed to circulate tears around and behind the lens to oxgenate and lubricate the cornea surface.

Fitting a lens that works well can take several attempts as you know.

You do not say how long you have been wearing this new lens, but it would then be impossible to predict if and when you would get used to a lens as we are all different and there are many variables.

Usually after getting a new lens the optom check the fit after 2 - 4 weeks, so I would give it atleast this long if there are no other issues and ask your optom at the check up.

Hope this helps.

Gareth

[Sweet]

Hello there and welcome to the forum!

It can take a while to get used to a RGP lens and indeed to get the right fitting. I have been lucky in that when i first started wearing lenses it went really well, i actually got told off for overwearing them and not building up the wearing time!

I would say to take it slowly and to go back soon to get it checked out with your optometrist. Maybe it needs a slight change but will be fine. Do you use any eyedrops at all before you put the lens in? As these can really help.

Wishing you all the best, Sweet X x X

[Andrew MacLean]

Will

Others have said all that I'd have wanted to say, so I ust thought I'd add my welcome to theirs.

After a time of adjustment, I found RGP corneal lenses a great boon, ad I wore them for over 2 decades!

Andrew

[Amarpal]

Hi Will, you will probably get very used to your lenses sooner or later. I have got so used to them and my eyes feel 'strange' without them in.
All the best with your new lenses!

[Will Burchell]

Hi all,
Thanks for your replies. I am a week into wearing RGPs and everything still looks a bit strange. Particualrly in bright environments like shops my vision is still quite blurry, and when driving I can notice a little double vision on things like traffic lights and flourescent signs.
Should I be able to eradicate this blurring/ghosting and double vision completely or is it a case that I may just have to get used to it to a certain extent?
Thanks again,
Will

[Andrew MacLean]

Will

I depends on what is causing the double image.

Many people with KC wear dark glasses to compensate for the bright light effect. I always find being out in bright environments quite painful, so I almost alweays wear dark glasses.

This is the only thing I have in common with Bono.

Andrew

[GarethB]

Will,

If you are still getting sued to the lenses, excessive tearing can exagerate the effects of double vision and can go down with time.

It also can depend on lens fit if there is a large gap between the KC cone and the lens.

I am far less light sensitive than I was before christmas. This I put down to the eye drops I use and the increased water intake to keep me hydrated. This has also resulted in increased lens comfort. Before they were comfortable but I would know they were there. Now they are exceptionally comfortable that I forget I have them in so have to be strict in what I do regarding eye and lens care now.