Hello,
I had RK in 1988 36 incisions left eye 18 in right eye, I've tried different RGP lens over the years with no success. My latest attempt left me more depressed then I already was. I found a Dr. that said he fitted eyes much more difficult then mine, and that he got a good fit 99% of the time on the first try well since he let me believe that my eyes would be easy compaired to the more difficult patients he saw on a daily basis,I felt he would/should be able to get the fit right in at least one eye; I was soooo devastated when niether eye had a good fit and vision was not good either. I'm suppose to go back but personally I don't think I can handle anymore disapointments; so should I give up now or has anyone had success with anything after RK.

Diane

Of course people have had success with RGPs following RK, but most RK patients never had 18 incisions, let alone 36. Similarly, patients with 2 diopters of LASIK or PRK are easier to fit with RGPs compared to those with 8 diopters. So much depends on the degree to which the original curvature was modified.

Every RS patient has characteristics unique to them, but more often than not, those who have had success or failure with one type of lens or another typically presume that others will have a similar experience.

An RGP cannot correct the underlying incisional scarring present with so many incisions but can correct some of the surface irregularities and aberrations. The degree of benefit of an RGP in your case will be directly correlated to the deep versus the surface aberrations. I personally have never heard of a patient with 36 incisions before.

Tenacity on the part of the doctor and the patient, seeing the process through to completion, is critical in RS rehab cases. Go with the most experienced fitter and be patient. The first pair may simply serve to enlighten your doctor as to the true difficulty that is he/she is facing.