ROSE K2 IC LENSES

[Jon House]

Hi everybody,I haven't been on for quite some time now, hope you're all doing ok.

For the past 18 months I have been regularly visiting my optom to trial various lenses with little success as I don't fit the various "standard" KC lenses (I realise that this is a misnomer, but you know what I mean!).

6 weeks ago we decided to opt for the lens which had given the best results out of all those trialled and after paying for my lens (unfortunately I'm not sure which exact make of lens it was) I trotted off home to begin building up my wear time and hopefully starting down the path to better vision.

I found that I was only able to wear the lens for a maximum of one to one and a half hours before it became too unbearable and often it just popped out hence I was scared to wear it outside for fear of losing it.

So I went back yesterday and we agreed that this lens wasn't working out and it was back to the drawing board.

After having a repeat topography to check for any changes my optom went through all of his stock to check for a better match when he came upon the Rose K2 Irregular Cornea lenses which apparently are a fairly new development to the range of lenses available to KC patients. After a quick fitting we found two possibilities which I am going to trial in three weeks time and I must admit they felt pretty comfortable in the short session yesterday, so I am quite hopeful.

Has anybody else had these, and if so how are you finding them?

[GarethB]

Never tried the Rose K2, but the standard Rose K has serviced me well for the past 4 years.

I think if I had lens problems in 2006 they would have tried the K2 when it first came out.

The problem with KC, what works for one person will have no benefit to another. I have heard of a study that took people with similar KC profiles and tried a whole range of lenses which should theoretically have worked for all but for some reason did not. Either the patient could not see or the lenses were too uncomfortable. This just highlighted how variable KC is.

[LM]

Hello. I've managed with RGPs for about six years, but my fitter has suggested moving to Rose K2s, which are now apparently available (sort of) in India, where I am. I had real difficulties with RGPs when I first started wearing them - with dust-related discomfort mainly, but now I've sort of gotten used to them. It also helps that I don't have nearly as much of a daily commute (and hence as much exposure to dust and other irritants) as before. However, over the last seven-odd months, my eyes have felt increasingly sore towards the end of the day. They look more inflamed as well. I've been trying to combat this with frequent use of lubricants like Genteal but the redness has persisted.

That's the background. What I'd like some advice on is, will Rose K2s help with the discomfort and inflammation? I've read elsewhere on this forum that they are more susceptible to dust. I believe they are more oxygen-permeable, though, and so better for the health of the cornea. Also, costs. I assume they would be more expensive than regular RGPs? About what do they cost in the UK (that's where my fitter will be importing them from)? Any other pros and cons to consider?

Thanks in advance.

[paula hardman]

Hi LM

I've been wearing rose k2's for 2 or 3 years now. The benefits, if you've got a milder form of KC, lie in the fitting. The optician has a file full of sample lenses made to fit a large range 'standard' KC corneas, so you get to try out different lenses in the surgery in order to find a good fit. The lens is then ordered to your prescription from the manufacturer and can also be made bigger than the standard lenses if necessary. Using standard shapes should mean that they're less expensive than made-to-measure rose k's but I've no experience of rose k's. It also makes fitting easier for opticians with little experience of KC. I think the full price of the K2's is about £110 per lens, but it's a while since I've needed new ones.

I can't see dust being more of a problem than with other rgps. The problem with KC is that the cornea is the wrong shape so the tears don't lubricate it as efficiently as they would with a normal eye. A poorly fitting lens won't help here, so it's certainly worth the money to get lenses that fit well as they can extend wearing time enormously.

[LM]

Thanks for that, Paula. That's a lot of money for a single lens here in India - even if the rupee is stronger against the pound than it was a few months ago. I'll have to weight it up. Another wrinkle is that my fitter's in Bombay and I live in Bangalore. She says it'll take two weeks after she sees me for the lenses to get there. It'll be difficult for me to spend that much time away from work - or make two trips. If anyone here knows of any good doctors/fitters in Bangalore, I'd love to hear about them.

[LM]

Paula, when you say you haven't needed lenses for a while - how long would that be?

[Andrew MacLean]

LM

Welcome to the forum!

Like Gareth, I got comfortable correction from the standard Rose K lens, but I have never tried Rose K2.

As to cost, I am afraid that in the UK we are insulated from the chill blast of economic reality by the NHS subsidy that means that no matter how much a lens costs we pay only around £52.

All the best.

Andrew

[LM]

Thanks Andrew. Yes, there's no conception of state-sponsored health insurance here. I have health insurance from a private company, but of course that doesn't cover contact lenses - it doesn't cover too much else for it to be worth the premium you pay, really.

[naveed]

Hi I have used Rose K2 .

Excellent lens .... vision and comfort are wow .

But they are hard lens ..

I only used Rose K2 , their is a bit of scaring now on my cornea and I think that is because of lens . Might be due to Ill fitting. Thats what my consultant thought as well . As I never had any hydrop.

I am trying Kerasoft 3 at the moment , Comfort level lot better than RGP .

But remember one thng Every person is different , every cone is different So ....It only once you have used and you can know.

best Wishes
Naveed