Lost lens

[Matthew_]

Donna,
Hope it all works out for you. I can normally function on one eye. It normally helps if it is the left eye as that is the worst KC eye ergo a lens on that eye is not as bad as one on my good eye
Its about £50 on the NHS. Its worth ordering, you don't always get charged; I thinkl Gartnavel gives you one lens if you loose and you have to pay after that.

[donna]

Thanks Matthew.
I have rang and told the optician that I need a replacement, hope he can just order it from the info he has from last time. The receptionist had no idea how much it would be.

[Eddie S]

Donna,

I'm wearing the one lens at the moment while I wait for intacs.

After a day or two your brain does get used to it and at the worst, I just cover my 'un-lensed' eye and my brain works out what is going on.

Ed

[John Smith]

Donna,

If you keep on losing lenses because they pop out of your eye, then is sounds like the lens may not be fitting properly.

You should probably ask your optom to look at the possibility of getting a better fit... or there's always a scleral lens. I'd be amazed if anyone managed to lose one of those!

[Eddie S]

Maybe you could ask to have them put on strings - you know, like how you used to wear mittens at school

[donna]

I like the mitten string idea Eddie.....you could hook the string over your ears
I am losing the lenses when I blink them out, I hated using the plunger cos one day it felt like I was going to remove my whole eyeball! So I made myself practise the blinking method of removal, only know I blink them out and they go everywhere cant win. So its my fault they get lost, I blink them out too hard or something!
Did you get tired when you first managed with only one lens Eddie?

[rosemary johnson]

I've never yet lost a scleral lens (only had one stolen - that's another story). But I've dropped them on occasions and spent long times groping round on the kitchen floor with and without a torch and a mad panic.
Rosemary

[Eddie S]

Hi all,

Rosemary - I was just going to ask how the bananas do you lose a scleral lens but after sitting behind you at the conference and watching you struggle to see I guess thats less of a silly question

For those who havent tried scleral lenses, another question may be how the bananas you get them to fit in your eye in the first place.

The Scleral is on the left, and really that big..



Now theres an idea Donna - ask to be fitted with Sclerals! Stand on them and you'll find them!

Wearing one lens is actually harder for me (blows trumpet) because I also have a mild case of double vision - its been corrected twice by surgery but the last op could only do so much to bring the eyes together - my brain has to do the rest.

This is easy to do if both my eyes are seeing a similar image, but with one eye in focus and the other out of focus it can be quite bizzare. However if I get into trouble I just cover my right eye and it goes back to normal.

I did suffer a little tiredness to start but its gone now. The right attitude is not to think about it.

What is more annoying about only being able to wear one lens is when I have a bad eye day. With two lenses you have the option to take one out and rest it but with one lens you are stuck!

Hope you get sorted soon.

Ed

[Steven Williams]

If you keep on losing lenses because they pop out of your eye, then is sounds like the lens may not be fitting properly

I tend to agree with John on that Donna.
Ask your optom to check the fit before ordering especially if he is insisting that you have to pay. The NHS is alot more sympathetic than the commercial private sector to replacements in these issues.

Many Private sector optoms wont take the risk of prescribing for KCers and I can understand why.

Regarding the cost of a replacement remember your consumer rights, if the lens is not fit for purpose, and it appears that may be the case if it keeps popping out when not expected then you should not have to pay again.

Also remember to ask for a tint on your next lens, much easier to find.

Regarding sclerals, yes I found them to be the most comfortable and easy to find, but they are alot more expensive to replace if you lose or break them.

[GarethB]

Donna,

If it is only when you are blinking the lenses out at the end of the day as your optom first instructed you, try putting a towel over the sink so there is a deep depression in it. The lens does not bounce, but has a soft landing so will not break.

I can only blink out my right lens and the towel lining the sink has always worked for me, so far never lost a lens but there is always a first time.