Contact lens troubles

[mindingmyown37]

DS 17 has kerrataconus, he had a cross linking procedure done back in November and has now recieved contacts. The lady struggled the first time we tried, it took 90 mins just to figure which prescription he’d need. On Tuesday we returned for him to pick up his lens and to train how to do do it. He did it really quickly himself, quicker the 2nd and 3rd time around. Since we’ve been home he’s not managed to get them in. He’s autistic and everytime he fails it’s triggering him and he gets fraustrated and extremely stressed about it, starts slamming doors etc . The optometrist told him it can take time to manage, we have another appointment in 2 weeks to see how he’s doing and I’m afraid he’s gonna have no progress. Apparently there’s no way for him to have glasses, it has to be contacts. They want him to have the other eye done too but I point blank refused until we’ve sorted this eye out first. The lens he has is apparently the hardest one to insert aswell. I just feel like contacts are really not for the faint hearted. I basically just wanna know any tips or tricks people have to get them in. He has a prominent brow ridge which isn’t helping. Thankfully we have 2 months till he goes back to college but so far it’s not looking promising 🫣

You’ll get there op, so long as he keeps gently trying. They can seem impossible at first but become second nature.

Sit at a table with an adjustable angle shaving mirror.

I think the autism in him can’t understand how he did it perfectly on Tuesday and now the last 2 days he can’t manage, he can’t understand so that’s causing stress. Now he’s sat in his room in a pissed off state 🙁

I’m not sure about other contacts but the ones he has have to be filled with saline to insert so he has to sort of bend right over.

Oh sorry can’t help with that.

Are they rigid Gas Permeable? I have these and I find them easier to insert if I look to the side and place them on the white of my eye, them manipulate them from there to the pupil by pushing gently on my lower eyelids. If I try to just bang them on the pupil I often blink and then the lens flicks onto the floor.

Did you watch how he did it correctly? I would say ring up and say he seems to have forgotten how to do it, or it was a fluke, and can you pop in for another quick lesson. If he is not doing it correctly he is just going to get discouraged and frustrated. Are there any videos on line for inserting the specific type of lens?

From a quick google it seems there are various possible types of lenses, did they say which type he has?

I'd go back to the opticians. Mine were VERY patient with me when I first started wearing contacts (it took a loooong time for me to get the hang of it!).

I know use dailies rather than monthlies and find those easier, but it sounds as Hough your son doesn't have much choice about the type he uses?

Here's a breakdown of the lens types:
Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses:
These are hard lenses made of a material that allows oxygen to pass through, helping to maintain eye health. RGP lenses can effectively mask the irregular corneal surface and create a new, smooth refractive surface, improving vision. They are a common first-line treatment for keratoconus.

Scleral Lenses:
These are larger RGP lenses that rest on the sclera (the white part of the eye) and vault over the cornea, creating a tear-filled chamber between the lens and the cornea. Scleral lenses can be more comfortable than traditional RGP lenses for some patients with keratoconus, especially those with more advanced cases or irregular corneas.

Hybrid Lenses:
These lenses combine a rigid gas permeable center with a soft skirt, offering the visual clarity of RGP lenses and the comfort of soft lenses. They are a good option for those who find RGP lenses uncomfortable but need the visual correction they provide.

Custom Soft Contact Lenses:
Advances in technology have led to the development of soft lenses that can be customized to correct vision in mild to moderate keratoconus cases.

Piggyback Lenses:
This involves fitting an RGP lens over a soft contact lens, which can improve comfort and visual acuity in some cases of keratoconus.

One of the above?

Try balancing the lens on the tip his middle finger. Use his ring finger to gently pull down the lower lid just a little bit. Lower his chin and look at himself in the mirror- make eye contact with himself and pop the lens onto the white of his eye then look across to the lens to settle it onto the cornea. Tell him not to stare at his own finger as it approaches his eye. That's enough to put anyone off!

I've been wearing lenses since I was a teenager and have always done it one handed.

Yeah he’s got the Scleral Lenses

He has a suction stick thing to use which is what the lady had him practice with. He’s doing everything right, the trouble is trying to hold his eyes open is hard with the shape of his eye. The lady was really good with him and told him not to worry if he can’t get it straight away but of course he’s just working himself up because he managed it several times the other day and now can’t 🫠

https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/for-patients/visual-aids/contact-lenses/contact-lens-insertion-removal-and-care-videos
this might be helpful, reassure your son that it’s common to have difficulties especially with more complex lens types, I’m sure they’ll go over things again at his next appointment.
theyre quite specialised lenses though so I’m not sure you’ll get the info you need from the average MN user.
have a look on YouTube to see if there are any other videos about insertion/removal as well. Sometimes people post helpful tips.