Fitting a lens that will be comfortable and therapeutic to the traumatized post-LASIK cornea is a challenge to even the most experienced fitters. I just started the process and fairly typically, my first pair of lenses could use some adjustment.

I would like to stress, however, that these lenses are far superior to no correction and to glasses... so even at this intermediate stage the experience has been beneficial.

I find myself reaching for my contact lenses immediately in the morning, and I wear them all of my useful waking hours. Lens drops, and removing the lenses to rinse, rewet and reinsert in the middle of the day are litle tricks I use to feel more comfortable.

I also use refresh PM 'outside' my eyes to moisturize the area around my eyes and prevent that itchy irritated feeling from long lens wear. I am careful not to get this vaseline-like goo in my eyes. I was wondering if I could get a doc's opinion on this practice and any thoughts on whether it would be a problem with RGPs.

scientist,

You mention you use Refresh pm "outside " of your eyes, I assume you mean you use it on the edge of your eyelids, lash line, and corners of your eyes. That's an interesting idea.

I have allergies which cause excess mucous in my eyes, which gunks my lenses and gives me a dry or crusty feeling around my eyes. One of the local drugstore chains (CVS) sells sterile unpreserved saline in soft plastic bottles. They produce a low-pressure stream of saline that cools my eyes and rinses out the gunk, relieving that dry or crusty feeling you mentioned. I find it doesn't seem to negatively affect my tear quality or quantity afterward.

Sometimes I wet a q-tip with saline and carefully run it around the edges of my eyelids and the eye corners, but it is difficult to avoid getting cotton fibers in my eyes, so it's not as good as a saline rinse.

Good luck,

Lynne

Lynne, yes... I use the Refresh PM on my eyelids and lash line to keep down that dried chapped feeling. If I saline too much or rub the skin around my eyelids they feel sore and chapped. I haven't noticed any problem with the contacts. Hopefully the petroleum based stuff doesn't 'eat' RGP plastic.

Several patients have mentioned that they LOVE a saline rinse. My best eye moment of the day is right after a hot shower, when I first put my lenses in. I have slept some, my meibomian gland secretions are warmed by the shower, the air in the room is humid and I have only had the lenses in a few minutes.

scientist,

That's a good question, re: interaction between petroleum-based ointment and the RGP material. I suspect it is difficult to keep the lenses clean. What cleaners do you use? I was told the absolute best is the Lobob Optimum "Extra Strength" daily cleaner. It has no abrasives, and another poster told me it is also used to clean microscope slides!

One of the eye docs on this site told me RGPs may only last a couple of years, then their ability to allow oxygen transport begins to get blocked.

I have 2 duplicate pairs which I alternate so they get extra soaking time, plus I use an ultrasound cleaner twice per week. Supposedly doing this regimen will extend the life of my expensive RGPs.

Lynne

Hi Lynne! I'm wondering if the abrasive stuff in Boston cleaner is really bad for your lenses? Where do you buy an ultrasound cleaner?
Do the docs out there think this is best way to keep lenses clean?

I know Dr. Hartzok uses Lobob cleaner. I was wondering if it would get protein gook off lenses as well as the white, slightly abrasive Boston cleaner?

Scientist,

Some RGP wearers use abrasive cleaners vith such vigor that they actually change the prescription and/or fit of their lenses!

With custom-made lenses, like my WAVE RGPs, using an abrasive cleaner is an absolute no-no. The lenses are cut on a computer-controlled lathe, using somewhere around 10 pages worth of data per lens. So, I am very careful to be gentle with my lenses, and I use an ultrasound lens cleaner a couple of times a week to clean off any protein or other deposits that the usual 2-day soaking in Lobob CDS doesn't clean off.

Your OD is the best person to answer questions regarding your cleaning regimen - it mostly depends on the lens material. (Mine are made from Paragon HDS.).

One source for an ultrasound lens cleaner is:

http://www.contactlenssource.com/lensoclean.html

I use plain sterile saline in the cleaner, rather than my expensive Lobob CDS. That seems to work fine.

PS, re: goggles: Harley-Davidson makes a range of sunglasses & goggles with gaskets; mine have a removable gasket and interchangable clear & tinted lenses. Available at H-D dealerships or at their website.

Good luck,

Lynne

There is nothing wrong with using Boston cleaner on your lenses. Who made the material for the lenses in the first place??? Probably Boston. Anyway, the silica beads will not damage the lens.

The cleaning regimine for RGP is Boston cleaner or Morning fresh on a daily basis after wearing the lenses and drying the lens and rubbing it with a dry tissue. Boston enzyme cleaner is good too. ;-)