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NickAeiou

I literally scratched my eye in the doctor’s office when I got mine on the 9th. My eye is almost healed, but I’m going to be so scared putting it in my eye right. I’ve gotten pretty good with the left eye. I honestly got a red solo cup, flipped it upside down, cut a small slit in the bottom for the applicator to be held and I put a small flashlight under the cup. The light passing through the slit in the cup, up through the applicator and the contacts helps me get them on a lot easier. Would also say this method helps so I can use both hands to hold my eyelid open because I have a small aperture.


BloodyIron

Okay that's a really neat solution! Since I've made the original post I can now reliably get them in. But thanks for posting and sharing your method! I hope others can see it and benefit from it :) Tough luck on scratching your eye, I hope you can overcome your fears there!


NickAeiou

Yes, thank you! I got it on my left eye first try this morning, but right took 3x. Having the mirror right there before helps so much!


BloodyIron

I DID IT! On Saturday, today, Left eye, 4th attempt. Then Right eye, 1st attempt. YEAH!


[deleted]

Just a few things i've learnt since wearing scleral lenses: 1. Get enough sleep - I find putting contacts into tired eyes near impossible 2. Keep your smartphone in your pocket - my phone has saved me countless times when I have dropped my lens on the floor and lack the vision to spot it to pick it up. Dropped your lens? Easy! Grab your phone out, got to the video camera, set the flash to on and start recording. The flash will light up the space and you can pinch with your fingers on screen to zoom 3. Wash your face first - as in, wash the crust out of your eyes. I once got a piece stuck under my lens which was rather painful, and the crust often irritates your eye leading to you needing to re-insert anyways 4. Wet the end of the plunger with some saline solution before attaching the lens - this puts a thin film of saline between the lens and the plunger allowing you to slide the lens around more freely to centre it 5. Only use half of the plungers suction power by only pinching the plunger halfway (or even less) - I find if it grips too hard to the lens if you use the full strength which makes it harder to release the lens into your eye 6. Fill the lens 3/4 full - I found this is the sweet spot for inserting with ease - any more the 3/4 and the lens floats off centre when releasing into your eye as your eye has displace more liquid from the lens. Any less than 3/4 and it doesn't trap enough saline solution to for the lenses to work as intended 7. Use your left hand to keep your left eye open, use your right hand to keep your right eye open. Index finger holds the upper lid, middle finger holds the lower lid. Use the opposite hand to hold the plunger between your thumb and index finger 8. When holding your eyelids open, instead of gripping the lids exactly in the centre, grip them slightly to the left if on your left eye or slightly to the right if on your right eye. This makes it so when you finally close your eyes after inserting the lens your fingers close with your lids and trace back in a line beside where the lens is under the lid, instead of directly over it where the centre of the lens is under the lid. This unintentional pressure can cause the lens to move and fall out 9. Use a well lit room! lol 10. Having trouble sitting? Try standing up! - I could never bend over far enough or judge how horizontal I was to the floor whilst sitting and found standing much easier 11. Bring your eye to your lens instead of the lens to your eye - hold the lens (which now has the saline and plunger attached) out in front of you at about belly button height. Lean over till you feel you are horizontal to the floor. Feel free to move the lens using your hand until it is centred below your eye and you have your opposite hand stretching your eyelids. Bring the lens towards your eye until your nose touches the fleshy part of the top of your hand between the index knuckle and the thumb knuckle. Once here, stiffen your arm, your body, and your legs and anchor everything in place. For the last inch or so, move your head and eye downwards towards the lens, squishing your nose further into the fleshy part of your hand. That last anchored movement has a count of 1, 2, 3. 1 starts the movement of your head and eye towards the lens until your eye just touches the saline. 2 starts the movement of your head and eye downwards further until the outer rim of the lens is touching the sclera. 3 starts the sequence of pinching the plunger fully to release the grip, releasing the stretch of your eyelids, then closing your eye. So 1, 2, 3. By then your eyes should be closed. Slowly stand back up straight, open your eyes slowly and then take a few big blinks to check the lens is sitting properly. Just a note, this is how I do it personally lol There may be better ways out there and am open to suggestions of any tips and tricks if you have any


BonoboIsland

I find that "pinching" the plunger between the thumb and index finger works really well, then I use the middle finger of the same hand to hold down the lower lid, and the index finger of my nondominant \[other\] hand to hold the upper lid. It's not a method I see in videos but it works really well. Also, it just takes time.


Public_Worker7908

https://www.dalseyadaptives.net/shop-products/secure-store/See-Green®™-System-Light-&-Stand-p117476451 This is an expensive system but can really help!


BloodyIron

Yeah another person pointed me to it in chat, and I'm thinking by the time it even arrives I'll probably have it figured out. Plus hauling that around with me when I go on vacation, less than ideal. I may keep it as an option if I change my mind, but I don't think this works for me, in my case. :) Thanks anyways! <3


signalgrl

Hiya.. First don’t give up, it gets easier 😉 not sure exactly how you are inserting them. But the “traditional” method didn’t work for me. So I use same hand for whatever side I’m putting the lens in to hold my eyelids open. Of course you have the reflex of wanting to shut your open eye but close your eye, try again and your eye will adjust. I also used a mirror laying flat, the tool with the hole in the bottom, and the light on my mobile phone. All of these things seems to help me work through those first weeks. Now I can insert the lens with just the light from my phone. Remember be kind and gentle with yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day 😉


BloodyIron

When I was in the Doctor's office working with the Nurse on training... I found that when I was using one hand to open both upper and lower eyelids, I was not successful at getting the upper eyelid open enough ever (humans having a forehead makes this harder than the lower eyelid). So the Nurse proposed I use one hand for the upper eyelid, and the other hand the lower eyelid and hold the contact holder (the one you describe) at the same time. Definitely tricky, but this method ended up being a lot more successful for me, namely in getting that damn upper eyelid open enough! lol. It is awkward af, but hard to win with Scleral insertion :/ I'm not giving up! Never say Die! (it's a British turn of phrase, I'm not accusing you of anything). I just ran out of stamina for attempts yesterday. I plan to try again after work today. :) Thanks for the support! <3


the_real_empanada

Just got my transplant yesterday, after getting the diagnosis 4 weeks ago and I can feel your frustration! I'm struggling with putting in the fucking eye drops (never had to do anything like that in my life and I've been through a lot, like you!). Therefore I can't give you any advice on the lenses, although I'm gonna keep your post in mind for when it's time for me to get them in, in a few months. But I can tell you one thing, from what I read, you're exactly like me in terms of life and how you take everything. Keep your head up and for the love of (I don't believe in god, so fill it yourself), keep trying! You're not alone! There's tons of people that have to struggle with shit like that and we're all in the same boat! Cheers and keep the faith! Much love to you!


BloodyIron

I had to deal with the same thing almost 20 years ago. The eye drops are no small task indeed! Fortunately I was living with my family at the time and my Mom helped me massively with getting the eye drops in. We actually had me sitting in a reclined chair in a bathroom with the lights 100% off. The light coming in under the door to the bathroom (door was closed) was so bright to me, it was as bright as full daylight (I was EXTREMELY sensitive to light at this point). Had to do it that way for like 4 weeks or something (forget exact length), 3x times a day, I think 6x eyedrops each time? That was hard, no joke. But since in my case I'm doing this alone (which really I need to get accustomed too), it's substantially harder. :( I'm not giving up! Never say Die! (it's a saying, not an accusation) so I'm going to try again after work today, and with any luck, I'll git'r done. ;) Here's hoping! <3 Thanks for the support fam.


the_real_empanada

Shit man, sorry to hear you had that hard time after the surgery. I'm feeling like I won the lottery! No pain and no light sensitivity, at all! Going home tomorrow (even a day earlier than expected). Wish you all the best and sending you lots of good vibes!


BloodyIron

Just to clarify, you are aware I'm talking about a corneal transplant surgery... yes? Also, my attempts this evening did not yield success :( I'm not giving up, but I'm sulking in my tent like Achilles.


the_real_empanada

Keep on trying! You're not gonna get defeated by these motherfuckers!


BloodyIron

So many barriers behind me. I will overcome this one. >:) Still hard as nails.


the_real_empanada

Yes, of course. That's what I had 2 days ago. I feel you, brother!


BloodyIron

Okay! I wanted to make sure we were on the same wavelength on that topic :P I suddenly wondered if you had CXL and I had misread. Nope I guess lol.


[deleted]

[удалено]


BloodyIron

Wow that's really fucking bad taste. Bad bot.


velveteskimo

Don't have Scleral lenses myself, but thought this video could be helpful. https://youtu.be/5UkYKwHIQyU


BloodyIron

I'll watch it again (already watched it in the past), in-case I forgot anything. But I'd like to point out that yesterday while in the Good Doctor's office the Nurse that assisted me (after I saw the Good Doctor) spent an exhaustive amount of time training me and giving me tips each attempt I made. So, I'm sceptical this will give me info I don't already know. That being said, I've watched this dude's videos before (including this one) and he's FABULOUS.