Q: Anyone wear hard (gas permeable) contact lenses?

salxtai
salxtai Posts: 341 Member
edited December 17 in Chit-Chat
I'm supposed to switch to them because my eyes' health is suffering from 12 years of wearing soft contacts.


I've got a pair that I'm meant to be wearing for progressively longer periods, but I seriously don't see how these are meant to be my everyday options.


- I get the shutter effect, where the lens bounces everywhere with every blink, meaning things lose focus then refocus.. eventually, and just in time for the next blink. (according to the "lens technician" who taught me to wear them etc and checked them, they "fit perfectly" and have a good seal...)

- it feels like a small irritant in my eyes all the time. Not enough to make it tear up, but can definitely feel it



Has anyone else switched to hard successfully?

Do you still feel them as if it was a bit of dirt in your eye?

Do they ever stop moving so much they keep losing focus with each blink?

Replies

  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    my eye doc tried to get me to switch..because i wear my acuvue 2, soft lenses for LONG periods of time..i'm talking like a month at a time or longer. i've been doing this for years with no problems. i tried those hard and i had the same thing..i felt them and they were annoying and my vision was blurry at times..i guess due to that slipping you talked about. i finally just lied to my eye doc and tell him now i switch them out ever week.
  • Meggles63
    Meggles63 Posts: 916 Member
    I used to wear the hard lenses, but eventually switched to extended wear (took them out every night). I'm sorry I really can't give you any advice, as I went the opposite direction. I know it takes time to get used to them and I wish you luck!
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
    I wear gas permeable lenses as I had started to get some damage to my eyes through lack of oxygen. I have been wearing these a few years now and the damage has retreated (if that makes sense!).

    The lenses I wear are soft monthly disposables, and also weighted for stigmatism (in both eyes). They have always fitted correctly and I have found them more comfortable to wear than normal lenses.

    As your lenses are causing this much discomfort, I would definately go back to your optician.

    I am based in the UK, but I am sure that this particular brand of lens is available globally. I am at work at the moment, but will post more details as to the make of lenses when i get home this evening. Hope this helps.
  • salxtai
    salxtai Posts: 341 Member
    I wear gas permeable lenses as I had started to get some damage to my eyes through lack of oxygen. I have been wearing these a few years now and the damage has retreated (if that makes sense!).

    Yep this is precisely why I'm having to switch over.
    I'm 23 and apparently its a degree of damage they'd expect from someone much older.

    The lenses I wear are soft monthly disposables, and also weighted for stigmatism (in both eyes). They have always fitted correctly and I have found them more comfortable to wear than normal lenses.

    As your lenses are causing this much discomfort, I would definately go back to your optician.

    I am based in the UK, but I am sure that this particular brand of lens is available globally. I am at work at the moment, but will post more details as to the make of lenses when i get home this evening. Hope this helps.

    They don't want me to go to soft because they cover more of the eye, and because I have a high power requirement, my lenses are thicker as it is, which worsens the problem.

    Hard only sit on the pupil mostly, so less surface area being covered, and therefore not able to get oxygen :(
  • LMRoses
    LMRoses Posts: 148 Member
    Hi there, I work as an optical dispenser (which is kind of like a pharmcist for spectacles and contact lenses - a pharmacist fills a script from your doctor, an optical dispenser fills a script from your optometrist). I can't actually give specific medical advice, however there are a couple of things. Firstly, it is very normal to need to build up wearing time with RGP lenses, and compared to a soft lens, it will feel like you have dirt in your eye at first, but most people's eyes do adapt before too long. I would suggest going back to whoever fitted them and telling them about the movement problem, you should be able to blink wihtout worrying they'll come out.

    Secondly, and I cannot stress this enough, it is not a good idea at all to wear any type of contact lenses longer than they are designed for. They all have specific amounts of oxygen they can transmit, and this along with other factors, determines the recommended wearing time. Oxygen absorbed through the cornea surface is the only way for your cornea to get oxygen as it has no blood supply, so obviously this is very important. I have had patients and one colleague who have left lenses in too long and developed corneal ulcers overnight. If you think that sounds painful, double it. Eyes closed is agony, blinking is worse, but you also can't keep your eyes open because of the related swelling. This can also endanger your sight itself. Do not risk it! In addition to corneal ulcers, there is the risk of bacteria and other hazards getting between your eye and the lens which can cause blindness within 24 hours. If you wear contact lenses, you really must be extremely careful and follow all the wearing and hygiene advice given by your optometrist/ophthalmoligst/optician/etc.

    I don't mean to put anyone off contact lenses, as they are a great optical solution and as long as you follow the instructions properly, the vast majority of people experience no complications.

    I would be happy to offer any other advice, but as always, it defintely cannot take the place of speaking with your eye care provider.
  • jonnyman41
    jonnyman41 Posts: 1,032 Member
    if you are already having problems at your age I would consider lazer surgery!! (though I am too chicken to go for it myself so mainly wear glasses now)
  • salxtai
    salxtai Posts: 341 Member
    Firstly, it is very normal to need to build up wearing time with RGP lenses, and compared to a soft lens, it will feel like you have dirt in your eye at first, but most people's eyes do adapt before too long. I would suggest going back to whoever fitted them and telling them about the movement problem, you should be able to blink wihtout worrying they'll come out.


    They don't necessarily feel like they're coming out, but they definitely seem to prefer sticking to the eyelid than the eye and travel up wit hte eyelid when I blink.


    As for the other health-related things. I've worn them for years and am paranoid about keeping them clean etc. :smile:
  • LMRoses
    LMRoses Posts: 148 Member
    I'm glad to hear that you keep them clean, single most important thing :) As for the travelling with your lid, perhaps you might benefit from lubricating drops until your eyes get more accustomed to them? Something you could ask the optometrist maybe, or even ring his office and ask his reception girls. I know where I work, people come in for lubricating drops for various things quite often, and there are some which are better for contact lens wearers than others.
  • salxtai
    salxtai Posts: 341 Member
    I'm glad to hear that you keep them clean, single most important thing :) As for the travelling with your lid, perhaps you might benefit from lubricating drops until your eyes get more accustomed to them? Something you could ask the optometrist maybe, or even ring his office and ask his reception girls. I know where I work, people come in for lubricating drops for various things quite often, and there are some which are better for contact lens wearers than others.

    I actually got given some lubricating drops with the pack, but I don't really notice any difference after using them, and it seems to defeat the purpose if I have to keep using them with every blink...?
  • salxtai
    salxtai Posts: 341 Member
    if you are already having problems at your age I would consider lazer surgery!! (though I am too chicken to go for it myself so mainly wear glasses now)



    Not an option for me, my power is too high, it'd have no effect on my vision
  • Pookylou
    Pookylou Posts: 988 Member
    I've always had hard contacts - I tried soft ones last year but couldn't get on with them! I too have terrible vision and they've always been recommended for me (I have astigmatism too, my eyes suck!)
    It took me a long time to get used to them without them irritating, but it did get some they weren't noticeable (as long at they were clean!!). I've not had the sticking thing - maybe they don't fit correctly? I'd go back to your opticians and have them check the fit again.
    Also - high five on the too rubish eyes for laser surgery!
  • LMRoses
    LMRoses Posts: 148 Member
    Don't worry too much about not being eligible for laser surgery. Even poeple who do have successful laser surgery will still need reading glasses once they hit age 45-50. This is because around this age the crystalline lens inside your eye loses the ability to accmodate (that is, change shape and thickness) to focus on near objects. It happens to everybody, is unavoidable, and at present there's no technology to prevent it. You'll have a headstart and wind up glasses free for longer, as you'll make a nice smooth transition into multifocal contact lenses when the time comes :)
  • salxtai
    salxtai Posts: 341 Member
    Don't worry too much about not being eligible for laser surgery. Even poeple who do have successful laser surgery will still need reading glasses once they hit age 45-50. This is because around this age the crystalline lens inside your eye loses the ability to accmodate (that is, change shape and thickness) to focus on near objects. It happens to everybody, is unavoidable, and at present there's no technology to prevent it. You'll have a headstart and wind up glasses free for longer, as you'll make a nice smooth transition into multifocal contact lenses when the time comes :)


    Glasses-free for 20-odd years? Yes please!


    Also - high five on the too rubish eyes for laser surgery!
    :drinker: Cheers! :tongue:
  • amybrauch
    amybrauch Posts: 250 Member
    I have been wearing RGP since I was 12. You will eventually get used to them.I do remember them being painful at first, though.
  • salxtai
    salxtai Posts: 341 Member
    I have been wearing RGP since I was 12. You will eventually get used to them.I do remember them being painful at first, though.

    Guessing yours don't ride up with your eyelide when you blink, though?

    I get that there's probably always going to be some movement, but I don't think its so much that you can see the lens reshifting and the area of focus coming back to the centre with each blink :\
  • dpkohler
    dpkohler Posts: 1
    I know this is probably highly unusual, but I have had the same pair of hard contact lenses for over 30 years. I regularly go to the optomitrist and get my eyes checked. She said as long as I am comfortable with them, then there is no reason to switch to RGP. She did make me a pair of RGPs as emergency backup in case I lose one of my original ones. But no problems with my eyes not receiving oxygen, etc. And it may just be genetic, but I still don't need reading glasses unless the print is super small or the light is really low. My main problem now is that my contacts are outliving the sloutions on the market. Walmart just stopped making the solution I've used for years. The new stuff is too goopy and slimy. Thanks for listening.
  • lynnr85
    lynnr85 Posts: 1
    Just got a rgp lens, boston brand 1 wk ago. It is uncomfortable, but not unbearable. After 15 years of wearing soft lens I got where I could no longer tolerate them for more than 4-6 hrs. The problem with the rgp is a blur at the bottom on the outer side of my eye. I go back in 1 wk and hope they can send it back to get a better fit. My eye doc said it fit fine on the initial fitting. As for lasik, unlike most ppl who have lasik I had it on one eye. Lucky I did bc I had a post op condition called dlk or sands of the sahara. 1 month post lasik and I still only see about 20/50. Going from a -5 rx this is a great improvement, but still not my desired outcome. So basically I'm hoping this rgp is the solution for my non-surgical eye. I'm also considering the airoptix brand bc it has great oxygen permability. Thanks to the posters who said the blur is not normal bc I was not sure if it was part of the rgp adaptation period or not.
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