Suggest Treatment For Keratoconous In Eyes

Posted on Thu, 14 Aug 2014

Question: I have Keratoconous in both the eyes. I have been using RGP contact lenses since 2001. Last time, I got them replaced was in 2004 and since then I am using this pair. Today I got my eyes examined and the corneal topography was also done. The parameters of my right eye is almost the same as it was in 2001. For the left eye, there is a slight change in power.
Now I am 40 years old and the doctors feel that in a couple of years, I would need reading glasses.

Now I have gone ahead and asked the Optician to prepare a new set of lenses for me. The optician says that the RGP lenses that he will give me will be RGP 90DK and that can be used for one year.

Now my questions are:
Q1 : Do I need a 90DK lens. Can't I use a simple RGP lens without a DK?
Q2: I am using my current lens for the last 10 years. Why do I have to change my RGP lens every year.

Thank you for helping me with my concerns.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You need to use contact lenses with DK value.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care magic

I am Dr. DADAPEER K, an Ophthalmologist and I answer health problems related to eye.

It seems from the history that you are having keratoconus and you are using rigid gas permeable contact lenses.

Rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses are less commonly used now a days and soft lenses are commonly used. RGP lenses are used in case of irregular astigmatism as with keratoconus as soft contact lenses will not provide satisfactory improvement in vision.
The main problem with RGP lenses is decreased oxygen permeability to cornea, hence RGP lenses with DK value should be used wherever possible. DK value indicates oxygen permeability of a contact lens. A RGP lens with DK value of 90 is as good as soft contact lens.
Hence you need to use RGP lens with DK value.

Coming to your second question, contact lenses soft or RGP needs to be replaced regularly.
The regular soft contact lenses need to be replaced every year, whereas RGP lenses can be used up to 2 years. You are not supposed to use contact lenses for so long without replacing them. Ideally you should regularly replace the contact lenses at least once in a year to prevent complications caused by contact lenses.

Hope I have answered your questions and the information is helpful to you.

Thank you
with regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (1 hour later)

Thank you Dr. Dadapeer.

I have heard that soft lenses will not help me. RGP lenses with a DK value is similar to a soft lens. For the last 14 years, I have never faced any problem in using a RGP lens without DK. I fear that a DK lens that is similar to a soft lens, may not fit my eyes properly.

I hope I will not face any discomfort in using this new kind of lens.

Thank you for your reply.
Regards.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
RGP lenses with DK value will not cause discomfort

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

RGP lenses differ in the material they are made of and provide more stability as compared to soft lenses and hence they can correct refractive error caused by irregular corneas as occurring in astigmatism.

RGP lenses with DK value retain all the properties of RGP lenses and they are better as they will not cause hypoxia like traditional RGP lenses.

These will not cause any problem and will correct your refractive error, no need to worry.

Hope the information is helpful to you.

Thank you
with regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar