Hi all,

I finally found a total occluder contact lens for my wayward left eye. They're just not available here in Romania, but you can't order them off the internet without a doctor's prescription -- and try to find a doctor here who will write you a prescription to order something off the internet!!!

But I talked to a very nice man at a company in the States that makes prosthetic lenses, and when I explained the situation, he said they could help me if I got our health officer to fax him a signed letter vouching for me. (I work for the U.S. government overseas.) So, two total occluder contact lenses (1 + replacement) are on their way to me now and should be here before the holidays! And check it out, they're only $100 each! Compared to other prices I've seen, this is lovely.

I'm thrilled, as the only "occluder" lens available here has the wrong base curve and a 5 mm pupil, so not only does it slide around on my eye all day, it also lets enough light in to bother me. (Background: my left eye has photophobia and diplopia due to corneal scarring.) I'll look a bit odd -- one normal blue iris, one totally black -- but it beats the crap out of wearing a pirate patch under my glasses. Don't get me wrong, I think patches are cool. They also knock my glasses askew and do goofy things to my hair. I envy those of you who can pull off patches and look sexy -- I just look unkempt.

Life is good,
Ya'ara

Ya'ara -

I am happy for you! Thanks for your personal message - it is so encouraging to find people like you out in Cyberland who understand what my wife is going through!

Regarding your contact - my wife had terrible light sensitivity for the past year due to her cornea disease and for the last month she wore a fully painted contact - totally dark. To be honest even though her eyes were different colors, it was not something that most people even realized. And it was better than a patch or having to wear sunglasses everywhere. It provided her with very good comfort, so I hope and pray that you have a good result with this!

Let me know how it works out for you.

All the best!
BS

Hey Ya'ara, thats cool glad its coming, BUT.... did you get measured for it?? If not, then you may still have the problems of it moving about!

I am getting my new Cosmetic Lens in the next day or two form Moorfields. (After waiting 16 weeks for it to come from Scandinavia!) So, we'll see how it goes, after all, the last one was a disaster! But hopefully it will sort out my remaining diplopia, and make driving at night not so scary! lol.

Hurray, your lens is coming!!!!!

Measured? Um... uh... um... well... no. I'm crossing my fingers, basically. I mean, I've been measured here and I sent him all the specifications, but since every brand of contact lens is slightly different, I know I might get something that's not quite right. Just too desperate to wait until March (when I'll be in the States on holiday), and willing to risk the $$$ for a quick fix.

I stayed out at karaoke wayyyyy too late last night and hope everyone else feels better today than I do.

Ya'ara

I got my lens!

Its a different colour to the old one, and in a way they are both wrong, but in different aspects... although this is a lesser degree of wrong!! LOL.

Mine is like what you describe of your wife's lens Riverdog, it is totally black on the back so that no light gets through at all. My dig camera is banjaxxed, but if I get the memory card in my phone sorted I will get a snapshot onto the Pics thread.

The fit is MUCH better than the last one, I know that allready by just popping it in, but the proof is in the wearing, so a few days down the liine we will know better, altho I better not get any more abrasions!

The residue diplopia is gone with this on so thats GREAT, we'll see what happens at night time and during night driving, but all in all its a result!

I was hoping I didnt have to go back to a lens like this and the cosmetic problems (and the even worse possible inflammation issues) that it brought along, and allready I can see that drops are an issue, but they are preservative free so thats grand.

Its a case of wear and see, but atm Im happy enough.

When is yours due Ya'ara?

Congratulations! We want to see pictures...

Mine is late... I got an e-mail Tuesday that says "Your lenses arrived yesterday and are being prep for the opaque process. I’m sorry it’s taking a little longer than usual, but since we had to order the lenses it’s put us back. I will email you a tracking # as soon as they ship out." If I'm lucky they'll go out next week and show up in Romania around the first week of January.

Crossing my fingers that you continue to be happy with yours!

Ya'ara