soreness behind eyes

[timtim]

I'm wondering if it is normal that my eyes are sore most of the time, and it seems like it goes around to the back of my eyes. It feels like it's from my eyes working hard to focus, hence the headaches, etc.

Does anyone else get this?

[dweezil1968]

yes, pain and soreness are constant reminders of the joyous world of KC. simple fixes- are your lens fitted properly or the right strength? if you wear glasses are they right prescription?
take lens out and clean regularly
use preservative free lubricating drops
don't stare at the TV or a monitor for hours on end- take breaks
have a few hours when you can where you don't where any lens
avoid air conditioning
be careful with makeup getting in the eyes see also shampoo etc

cheers

[timtim]

Thanks for the reply. My job is staring at a computer all day. I think thats one of my big downfalls. I try to take regular breaks to rest my eyes, but they still feel weary by the end of the day (sometimes it doesn't take long). About my prescriptions, I didnt' have any luck with RGP's. My eyes are quite sensitive and I just don't think I could handle them. So I'm in soft contacts and glasses after work at the moment. The prescription isn't great, because my left eye has a lot of ghosting and multiple images. My right eye has always been the good one, but I can tell its decreasing too. I think alot of the eye strain may be due to my right eye having to handle much of the work of trying to focus. The muscles around my eyes feel like they work pretty hard to see. I'll take into consideration your advice and hope to make things better. I am also starting to strongly consider a change in careers to one with less computer work.

[dweezil1968]

there are many differnt options for lens now- and you should try with RGP if at all possible. are you in the UK? maybe you need to get your GP to refer you to a recomended specialist- I have seen plenty in London, brigton and worthing
the best vision comes with RGP, you could try one eeye at a time?
I also work with computers all day! some days are worse than others, i don;'t havea lot of choice workwise.
maybe you are ready for a graft? i just had one in left eye.
good luck

[melissa]

most of us have been through a similar experience. I hated RGP lenses at first and refused to wear them for about a year, but eventually my vision was not acceptable and I tried again. For me it took about 2 months to get used to them and there have been many troubled times, but with a good contact lens specialist it worked out. eventually i went onto piggy-backs which were a miracle for me.

I have also had other eye surgeries as a child for a squint, which apparently weakened my eyes' ability to focus. i have always often had the pain in the eyeball that you refer to and am told that it is due to eye strain (not KC specifically). i also work at computer and close reading all day, but i try to glance out the window regularly and look into the distance (not that i can see much in the distance). i suppose i am lucky to have a desk with a view. i also find a shower refreshes the eyes (with eyes closed of course)

[dweezil1968]

also try cold teabags and those eye patches you stick in the fridge or freezer- bliss

[timtim]

We tried fitting different RGP's for a few months. The fit seemed good, but the problem was, they really made a lot of my problems worse, I felt. The light sensitivity was increased to where I couldn't even open my eyes outside if it was at all sunny. I got slightly better vision in my left eye, but I still got a lot of the multiple images and blurring even with the lens in. Should this normally go away with a good prescription and fitting? The other thing I couldn't handle was how bad my eyesight was when I took the lenses out after work. I like to take them out early and spend the whole evening in glasses, to rest my eyes. I found that I could barely see with them out for a few hours. Didn't have this problem at all with soft lenses. I do not live in the UK, I'm in the US. Do you think some of these problems could be fixed if I were to go see another fitter and try different lenses? I am really struggling with focusing issues and just lots of strain on my eyes. I am feeling dizzy pretty often now with how my eyes struggle to focus.

[dweezil1968]

light sensitivity is a fact of KC not RGP lens- our best friends are sunglasses in all weather
you should persevere and maybe get a second opinion- what do you have to lose?

[Andrew MacLean]

Sometimes called "light sensitivity" and sometimes "photo-phobia" and occasionally "light aversion", this odd little phenomenon seems to have its origin in the way that the keratoconic cornea will scatter light onto the inside surface of the eye in places where no light ought to go. Actually many people find a well fitted contact lens will diminish to some extent the experience of light sensitivity.

Sunglasses are wonderful. So are broad brimmed hats (I favour the Fedora in winter and the bush hat or Panama hat in the summer)

Andrew