New type of Contact Lenses

[Jennie_5678]

Hi Everyone,

I have been waiting on the Corneal Transplant List for a year now and some corneas have just come up. I am having the transplant due to intolerance to rgp lenses. My opthalmologist has said that he thinks that it would be good for me to try these new contacts. They are hard in the middle and soft round the edge. I do not know what they are called, but I was wondering whether anyone had, had a go with them. If you have please can you let me know what they are like!

Many Thanks

Jennie xxxx

[Andrew MacLean]

Jennie

Welcome to the forum.

What you have described is a 'hybrid lens', but they are not particularly new. There are always new developments in lens technologies: in my time I have tried rgp's (including Rose K), hybrids, soft lenses, piggy back lenses, scleral lenses. Many of us would think it wise to exhaust all available lenses before going for a graft, but in the end if it's a graft we need then nothing else will give us that sort of result.

New lenses since I have had my graft include a new mini scleral being trialed by number 7 and Kerasoft 3 (a soft lens designed particularly for people with keratoconus).

Do you see a hospital optometrist? I'm afraid that I am not an expert on every variation of lens materials and design, but there are some who post here whose professional expertise is undeniable. If you hold on a moment, I am sure that somebody will be along.

Every good wish. Do you have any idea how much time you have before they want to conduct your surgery?

Andrew

[Lizb]

I have got some of the Synergise lenses, which are as you describe, rigid centre and soft outer (flange my CL fitter calls it). As Andrew says there are various types of this type of lens, though i believe the Synergise have only recently become available in the UK (according to my CL fitter she is one of about half dozen fitters in the UK of these lenses - she also fits other people with other specialist KC lenses as well).
The size of these are larger than my husbands soft CL (his are just standard through) and the soft flange reaches the whites of my eye to give you an idea of size.

I have previously tried RGP and also piggy backing without much success, and had been managing with glasses so to get some lenses that were comfy and i could open my eyes and actually wear comfortably was amazing. More recently i have been having problems, more with dry eye, KC progression (got another fit this week so need to see how i go with them) and reduced wear time. the lenses are still comfortable when i first put them in my eye just goes red very quickly due to dryness.

[GarethB]

Jennie

Welcome to the forum.

The lenses you describe fall into a category often reffered to a Soft Perms which have been available for some time. What might be new is the type of Soft Perm they have available. Some people who are sensitive to RGP lenses use a system known as piggybacking where a soft lens is worn (no correcting power) to protect the cornea and an RGP with the correction on top. The sodft lens is usually a daily disposable.

Then there are the soft lenses specifically for KC which have proved beneficial to those sensitive to RGP's.

There are also Scleral lenses which are larger than a contact lens but don't touch the cornea.

There really is a large variety of lenses out there, as to how well they work is dependent on KC severity and eye sensitivity to name two variables.

There are so many lens option available I imagine it is hard for any hospital to have the full set available which is what makes sharing experiences so important.