posted
Does anyone here wear contact lenses? I am just not getting great vision with my glasses and my doc is suggesting synergeyes hybrid lenses.
These are a combo of a gas permeable center with a soft outer edge for comfort.
He said I could probably read 20/20 with them.
I was just wondering if anyone successfully wears contacts as there are so many eye issues with lyme.
Thanks for the info.
Posts: 581 | From CT | Registered: May 2008
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Hi opus,
I've worn contacts for most of my life.
Since starting Lyme and TBD treatment in 2005 (I know, ridiculously long time) there have been a few issues that have arisen.
If you're going to try contacts - follow the cleaning directions to the letter.
Don't sleep in them, even if they say you can.
And it might be a good idea to skip wearing them one day per week, to let your eyes breathe.
Also, I don't wear them when herxing.
Even with the above - last year, I developed a serious problem, which could have resulted in vision loss. Very frightening, and very painful.
LLMD said it was common in TBD patients, and was not surprised.
Now I wear contacts only briefly for special occasions and stick to glasses most of the time.
So - if you opt for the contacts, just be aware of your eyes, and don't ignore any signals your body gives you that your eyes need a break.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Since treating for TBD, I have had a lot of problems with my contacts. For one thing, my contacts don't seem to correct my vision as much as I need. I get a new prescription and then it happens again. I see better with my glasses even though I haven't updated the prescription.
Almost worse than that, for some unknown reason, my contacts will sometimes burn when I try to put them in. At first I thought it might be a cleaning solution issue, but I've switched types and still have this happen.
I don't know if this is related to TBD, but I was thinking just today that I was going to give up on contacts for now and get some glasses I am willing to wear all the time.
I did have those hybrid contacts you are talking about before I knew I had TBD and I liked them. My vision has always been much clearer with the gas permeable lenses. I think I had to give up those contacts because my eyes were too red.
Posts: 984 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I, too, have had problems with my contacts since having lymes.
My eyes must produce some sort of film and then it sticks to my contacts, making it very difficult to see.
Normally, I am able to simply take them out and clean them and put them back in. Some days, though, I just revert to my glasses b/c my eyes are produces too much of that film (whatever it may be?)
However, I still can see MUCH better with my contacts so I put up with it. Best of luck!!!
Posts: 18 | From Plover, WI | Registered: Jul 2009
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
I wear contacts, O2 Optix brand, they are supposed to be some of the most breathable ones available.
I've never tried the hybrid lenses. Your doctor should know what type will be best for you. If you are having vision problems with your glasses it would be worth a try.
Lyme and Co's have also affected my vision too. For the most part my vision will be sharp and clear. Then I will have flares where I cannot see to read or make out details from a distance. Everything will be blurry. It is scary but it is happening less often now that i'm on antibiotics.
I've seen a neuro ophthalmologist but he didn't have any helpful recommendations for me. He just said to keep treating the infections.
For cleaning my contacts, I like to use "Clear Care". It uses hydrogen peroxide bubbling action to clean the lenses. It is not irritating to my eyes like the other multipurpose no rub solutions.
If my eyes feel dry I use "Refresh Tears", they work great and do not leave a film behind like other moisturizing drops. At night I use "Refresh Liquigel" because I sleep with my eyes cracked open sometimes and this keeps them from drying out so much!
I also have allergies and struggle with redness in the mornings so I use antihistamine drops, either Naphcon A or Zaditor. Wait at least 15min before putting your contacts in.
Best of luck with your new lenses Opus!
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
I have had major problems with my contacts since I have been sick with Lyme. It took awhile to figure this out but, everyday within 5 minutes of putting my contacts in I would get a severe headache with pressure in my eyes that would make me feel like I was going to have a seisure.
I also would become extremely dizzy and feel like I can't breathe. As soon as I would take my contacts out it would all disappear within a few minutes. So, unfortunately I had to give up on contacts all together.
I have had the prescription changed and that didn't help. I've tried different kinds of contacts and cleaning solutions with no improvement. My eye doctor and regular doctor have no idea why this would happen.
I also have not been able to find any information anywhere of someone else having this problem. If anyone here has this kind of reaction to contacts can you let me know.
I wore contacts for 10 years before getting Lyme and never had this problem. I just hate wearing my glasses.
canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
piegirl,
I'm the EXACT same way. I put my contacts in and get migraines, blurred vision, and sometimes dizzy.
My contacts have a sharper prescription than my glasses.
My theory is that the contacts are too much for the eyes to handle. It's as if it's correcting my vision TOO much and my eyes are working overtime to see.
Obviously there are some lyme-related issues going on here for both of us. I'm not quite sure what it is.
My biggest fear is going blind. How do I prevent this? Or what do I look for?
Can herxing cause some eye flare ups?
I'm guessing yes. Wherever you kill the bacteria is where the toxins are released. For us with bacteria in the brain that means neurological/eye problems.
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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I already tried lowering the prescription of my contacts but that didn't help. I still had the same symptoms plus I couldn't see.
The weird thing is this happens everytime I put my contacts in and remains until I take them out.
I have had alot of neuro symptoms with my eyes due to Lyme like jumping/shaking vision, inability to focus my eyes on an object, can't follow moving objects, etc. So, I'm wondering if somehow the contacts makes that all worse.
I've had these eye problems for 5 years now and it has gotten a little better over time but, I still have these symptoms while herxing or not.
posted
I am so glad to hear about others and their contacts. I can't wear mine since getting lyme. I wonder if my ability to wear them will get better as my lyme subsides (whenever that is) I get headaches when I wear them and they feel like foreign objects in my eyes. I have worn them most of my life so this is new. Best to all of you! Kitty
-------------------- Kitty Lyme, Babesia, XMRV virus Diagnosed 2008 Mepron, Zithro, Cepaflexin, Fluconozol, Vitamin, Herb therapy Posts: 65 | From Kansas | Registered: May 2009
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I have never had problems with my contacts from lyme. I wear B&L Purevision (soft). My vision is about 20/15. A few years ago my Opth changed my left eye to a weaker prescription and now I don't need reading glasses with no real decrease in distance vision. It's an amazing trick!
My eyesight has been stable over the last 15 years or so. My prescription is -2.75. I have no astigmatism.
My vision is FAR BETTER with contacts than with glasses.
Just my experience.
James
Posts: 872 | From New York City | Registered: Jun 2008
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canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
James,
Did you ever go through symptoms involving your eyes?
blurred vision, floaters, redness
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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I do have allergic reactions sometimes where my contacts get uncomfortable and I can't wear my contacts for a day. But I don't think it has anything to do with lyme.
Posts: 872 | From New York City | Registered: Jun 2008
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canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
James,
I don't believe that the floaters I have are caused by age.
I've never had floaters until Lyme.
And I'm under the impression that floaters are caused by lack of oxygen/blood, etc.
Lyme can very well cause these problems. Especially lack of blood flow to brain.
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
Is it true that we are not supposed to wear contacts until better, because we can re-infect ourselves? I read that somewhere but I forget where.
Posts: 515 | From In His Loving Care | Registered: Apr 2009
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I don't know about your floaters. That's what my ophthalmologist told me about mine. He could see the defect that was causing the floater. It's not a circulation problem.
I don't know how someone would know what caused their floaters. Maybe you should ask a ophthalmologist and see if he thinks they're explainable.
Posts: 872 | From New York City | Registered: Jun 2008
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quote:Is it true that we are not supposed to wear contacts until better, because we can re-infect ourselves?
Why would that be? Contacts are disinfected everyday. And how would spirochetes infect contacts? Crawl through the corneas into the lenses? And how long could they live in plastic?
Doesn't sound likely to me.
Posts: 872 | From New York City | Registered: Jun 2008
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