my left RGP...

[timtim]

So I've been in RGP's for just a handful of days now, and I am noticing that after I've had the lenses in for about 6 hours, my left lens gets blurry. Its done this the last few days consistently. I tried putting multiple Aquify rewetting drops in and it doesn't help. Its a constant blur/haziness that makes it hard to see. Do you think this is probably just a part of getting used to the lenses, and something that will go away with time?

[John Smith]

Tim,

This is a sure sign that you're probably overwearing the lenses, especially as you've not had them long. If the problem kicks in at 6 hours, I'd suggest wearing them for 5 hours only for a week or so, and only then attempting 6 hours again. Another tip is to take the lenses out for an hour half-way through the wearing time, as that can extend wearing time significantly. I wouldn't do that until you've got used to the lenses though.

I'm not sure how the "wearing in" process works technically, but I suspect that you're training your eye to cope with slightly less oxygen.

[timtim]

Thanks for the reply So if I take the lenses out for a rest after a couple hours, should I clean them with the Boston Cleaner that I use? Also, how long would you suggest leaving them out for?

I guess it is a process of getting used to the lenses like you said.

If I build up wear time gradually, do you think I'll eventually be able to wear them for longer periods of time with no blurring?

[Andrew MacLean]

It is a pretty good discipline always to clean your lenses before inserting them. My own experience was that a break from lenses for about an hour allowed everything to settle down; but if you can manage longer that would probably be good.

Also, whenever you take the lens out, you could irrigate your eye with some artificial tears.

Andrew

[GarethB]

In anticipation of optoms screaming at me!

When I give my eyes a break I first rinse the lens case out with the storage solution and pop the lens in the case of fresh storage solution. Does not clean the lenses, but the storage solution is also a disinfectant.

Then just put lenses in again.

What I have found with most eye drops is that if you put them in while wearing lenses they cause the contact lens to haze over and the more you use the drops while lenses are in, the worse the haziness gets.

It did take me about 6 months to find a set of eye drops that worked for me and I tested each for at least 2 weeks. I did find all had a cumulative effect in that the longer I used them the better the results so a couple of days before giving up is just too short.

[timtim]

Ok, thanks for the help on how to give my eyes a rest. Guess its ok to just soak them in solution during a break, since I clean them thoroughly each night.

Gareth B-What kind of eye drops are you using? I have Aquify drops now, and they seem pretty good. I just had a revelation about how to make the drops work best (Lord knows if I'm right ). I put a drop in the lower part of my eye, and then I blinked a few times really hard, to make the lens slide up. This way, if my reasoning is right, that would help the drop to get under my lens and wet the cornea. As opposed to, say, soft contacts, where the drop you put on will just soak right into the lens.

[GarethB]

Tim

The best drops I found for my situation was Systane by Alcon.

I know many here have tried them with success, the singe use ampoules work better for me as they are preservative free. The top can also be put back on, so as long as you keep the tip clean I get a days use out of them.

Equally there are people here who have found Syatane to be completly usless for their situation and use other drops.

My understanding is that the type of drops that work best depends on the nature of the dry eyes. For me it is due to a surfactant in the tears being deficient so the oily lipid component fails to flow properly in the watery saline component. Systane mimics the surfactant pefectly for me and contains another component which helps 'lock' the water in my cornea so preventing it from drying out. They do work best if you take your lens out first.