Hi,

I recently made the jump to contact lenses about a month ago. The doctor prescribed me B&L Toric lenses that he said would work great. After making sure they fit OK, I went ahead and started wearing them. By the end of the first week, I looked like a vampire. My eyes were bright red and of course I knew there was something wrong. A trip back to the OD yielded bafflement and he said that I wasn't producing enough tears, so he put in these punctal plugs which are supposed to prevent your tears from draining. Unfortunately, this didn't fix the problem. After another week, he decided to try me in another brand of lenses which much to my chagrin isn't working either. Now he tells me that I am just not able to wear contact lenses and should consider LASIK.

Frankly, I'm kind of pissed because it seems that the OD just wants me to get out of his office. After he collected payment, he just doesn't seem interested in helping me. I refuse to believe that I cannot wear contact lenses.

So, I'm wondering if anyone here has any good reco's as to good ODs that are skilled with contact lenses and are actually willing to work with a patient to get them working properly.

Thanks!

10/17/2006 4:56:22 PM

i would try searching on tww

10/17/2006 4:59:42 PM

Wouldn't know about the working with contact lenses part (gave up on it because I felt naked without my glasses), but Dr. Croom (on enterprise street, belltower end) is awesome across the board.

10/17/2006 5:00:52 PM

I am *NOT* a doctor, but, when you switched lenses, did you also switch contact solution? I had a LOT of problems on the first contact cleaning system that I used, although not quite the same issue, but switched to B&L renu (w/o moisture lock), and the problems just dissapeared.

i would go talk to a doc first, the one I see is in Chapel Hill, near one of the malls there, i'll try to get the name for you. They wont be cheap, but they are good.

10/17/2006 6:09:26 PM

Quote :

"B&L renu (w/o moisture lock), "

bad for your eyes

B&L had a major recall on that

10/17/2006 7:16:09 PM

I don't have a recommendation for you because the great office I was going to disbanded, but I will agree with LadyWolff-- trying different contact lens solutions can make a ton of difference. Also, the fact that your doctor went straight to those plugs seems very odd. Usually they will change the type of lens before they do anything like that. I had problems with my eyes drying out as well... I ended up with some top of the line lenses for the time (this was about 3 years ago), so they're a lot more common now-- You can wear them for 30 days no hassle (although they still suggest you take them out nightly) and they enable your eyes to breathe a lot more than other lenses. Perhaps they could help you, too? Anyway, good luck. I'm currently in the market for a new optometrist, so if I find one I'll let you know.

10/17/2006 10:10:13 PM

couple door down from the village deli in cv, don't know the name right off hand

10/17/2006 10:12:44 PM

Yeah, I personally cant use any B&L contact solutions. They all make my eyes feel like they have sand in them.

10/17/2006 10:21:41 PM

try rigid gas perms

10/17/2006 10:29:57 PM

^^^^^ No they didnt, they had the recall on the kind that had it with.
^^ not saying it's for everyone, it's just what I use and the only thing i've found that doesnt give me problems.

[Edited on October 17, 2006 at 11:09 PM. Reason : .]

10/17/2006 11:08:53 PM

the only solution i can use is Complete
i luuuuuuuuub it

10/18/2006 9:17:12 AM

my eyes do not produce enough tears as well, and my doctor said it was evident when he looked at my eyes. Here's my doctor's suggestions: try taking fish oil capsules (2 per day) everyday and taking the contacts out at least 1 hour during the day to let my eyes breathe. if that doesn't work, he's going to get me to try the Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear contacts, which I have heard are really good. If that doesn't work, there's a small surgery that can be done. I don't know anything about the surgery part yet since my doctor wants me to try all options before that.

I haven't tried any of these options yet. I hate changing my routine, which is bad I know. So I wear my glasses a whole lot more now than before. Glasses are good b/c your eyes can obtain oxygen.

[Edited on October 18, 2006 at 9:48 AM. Reason : ]

10/18/2006 9:46:32 AM

Raleigh Eye Center

http://www.raleigheyecenter.com

Dr. Board (my opthamologist) is excellent, but he specializes in children so they might suggest someone else for you (i've beein going to him since I was born).
Good luck

10/18/2006 10:50:38 PM