RGP stands for “rigid gas permeable”, a newer generation of contact lenses that have replaced the old fashioned “hard” lenses.  They are available in a variety of plastics, usually silicone based, that transmit oxygen and carbon dioxide, hence the term “gas permeable.”  This is important from an eye health standpoint because the cornea is the only external tissue in your body that must derive it's oxygen supply from the atmosphere.  These RGP lenses give us another option to successfully fit patients who have wearing difficulties with or were unable to achieve satisfactory vision with soft disposable lenses.

Gas Permeable lens is smaller than a soft lens

Because of their rigidity, these lenses can often times provide clear vision to patients that could not obtain satisfactory vision with glasses or soft contact lenses. For example, those patients with a great deal of astigmatism, or who have had a corneal transplant. RGP lenses are also the lens of choice for those who have keratoconus.

Professional Fitting is Required
The fitting properties of a lens are determined by several factors including lens curvature, diameter and power.  The all-important factor is that the lenses must fit well enough to center properly but not so tight as to prevent an adequate oxygen supply to the cornea.

Considerable professional judgment is required for proper contact lens fitting and related follow-up eye care.  Frequently, a lens must be worn several weeks to determine if the oxygen supply is sufficient and the eye is adapting properly.  This follow-up evaluation is critical to the long-term health of your eyes and can only be made by a trained professional.

Teri helping a patient with lens insertion

You'll Learn Proper Care And Handling
In addition to the initial fitting, we will give you thorough instructions on lens care and handling. This is something patients are frequently concerned about, but is easily mastered with a little practice.  The cleaning procedures are simple and will be explained and demonstrated during an instruction session with one of our staff members. If by some reason, you need additional help, we will keep rescheduling additional instruction sessions at no additional charge until everyone feels comfortable and competent.                                                                

Follow-up Care is The Key to Long Term Success
We also provide the most important ingredient for long term success with contact lenses--on-going professional care.  Like any medical device, contact lenses must be monitored on a regular basis.  This is to ensure that your corneas are healthy and the lenses are fitting properly. The number of follow-up visits may vary due to the complexity of the case.

Patient wearing a RGP lens. Notice the white scar at the edge of the lens and beyond at 9:00. This is caused by excessive drying. This patient needed to be refit into a high oxygen soft disposablelens to cover the area to prevent further drying and scarring.

Here is an example of why the proper follow up care is so important to safe, comfortable contact lens wear.

Photo taken by Skowron Eye Care (SEC)

OFFICE PROCEDURE FOR FITTING RGP LENSES:

EXAMINATION DAY
Eye/Health Examination

HISTORY
Thorough case history to rule out any pre-existing conditions that prohibit wearing lenses, such as allergies, sinus conditions, medications, and work or home environment (dryness, dust etc).

Sue performing an auto refraction on a contact lens patient

AUTOREFRACTION

  • Computer verifies your prescription so we can provide you with the clearest vision possible.
  •  Also minimizes and in some cases eliminates the need to ask:
    “which is better, one or two?”

SLIT LAMP EVALUATION (microscope)

  • Document and monitor any existing conditions that would prevent successful wear
  • Enables us to monitor unwanted growth of blood vessels
  • To check for any corneal inflammation
John evaluating a contact lens with the slit lamp

TEAR EVALUATION

Tear testing to ensure the proper quality and quantity of tears are available to provide comfortable lens wear.

CORNEAL TOPOGRAPHY (photos/mapping of the front of the eye)

  • One of our higher tech instruments that maps out the shape of the eye
  • Enables us to accurately design lens shape, size, and curvature
  • Detects any unwanted distortions or warpage, which would indicate a lens change
 
Teri and Carol performing Corneal Topography


Dr. Skowron explaining all the bifocal contact lens options available.


CONSULTATION
After compiling all the data, we will discuss:

  • All your contact lens options
  • What your chances of success may be
  • What your expectations should be
  • After being thoroughly informed, WE will make the decision together, whether contact lenses are the option you would wish to pursue.

INSTRUCTION DAY
30-45 Individual session to instruct you on:

  • Insertion and removal
  • Wearing schedule (we start with a few hours a day and gradually increase)
  • Care of your contact lenses (how and what types of solution to use)
  • Follow up evaluation scheduled in one week
Dr. John instructing a patient on contact lens insertion

What to Expect from RGP Contact Lenses

  • Vision
    Vision will be crisp and sharp under normal circumstances.  Good vision will rarely be a problem with oxygen permeable contact lenses
  • Comfort
    While definitely exceeding the hard lens in wearing time, oxygen permeable lenses do not offer the initial “no feel” comfort of soft disposable  lenses.The general adjustment period will last two to four weeks, depending on individual sensitivity.  However, 5 to 10 percent of patients can not ever fully adapt to wearing RGP lenses comfortably.
  • Vision Stability
    Although there is not a specific scientific study, trends and past experience have shown that RGP's can slow up the progression of nearsightedness on some patients.
  • Less Infections
    If procedures are properly followed, infections with all contact lenses are low, but there are rare cases wear patients are prone to infection with soft lenses. Fitting a patient in a RGP usually solves that problem.

Four Elements Necessary

For Successful Contact Lens Wear:

  1. Motivation
    Your desire to wear the lenses and your willingness to go through the normal adaptation period.  This includes adjusting to not wearing glasses, as well as adapting to contact lenses.
  2. The Right Type Eyes
    Naturally, your eyes must have the proper  physical characteristics in terms of corneal curvature and lens prescription.  All patients are carefully evaluated before contact lenses  are recommended.
  3. A Good Fit
    Simply put, a good fit is dependent on the clinical expertise of your eye doctor.
  4. Your Cooperation
    You must adhere to the prescribed wearing schedules, lens handling techniques, and cleaning procedures.

CORNEAL WARPAGE

Notice the distorted, out of round rings on the right photo. This was the result ofwearing a poorly fitting contact Lens.

(Photos taken for diagnostic purposes at Skowron Eye Care)
 


We are one of the only offices in the Chicago area with an in house modification and polishing contact lens lab. This gives us the ability to polish or adjust your RGP lens immediately.
Diane polishing a contact lens while the patient waits.

MAKEUP TIPS FOR CONTACT LENS WEARERS
Contact lens wear can be hindered by many factors, including one that is often overlooked – eye makeup.  Here are a few tips that can lead to more successful contact lens wear.

  • Avoid using hair spays and spray deodorant as the spray may go into your eyes.
  • Use only water based mascara and eye makeup remover labeled hypoallergenic or for sensitive eyes.  Avoid waterproof mascara as it contains mineral spirits and petroleum distillates which are irritating.
  • The safest eye shadow is a cream product, since the creams do not create particle fallout like powdered shadows.
  • Put your contact lenses in before applying cosmetics to avoid picking up makeup residue.
  • Eyeliner must not be applied to the inner eyelid margins as it can cause pore blockage.  Soft crayon-type pencil liners are less apt to cause flaking than liquids.
  • Use of the proper eye makeup remover is critical.  A water-based product will help avoid the accumulation of grease around the eye and do an excellent job of thoroughly removing water-based mascara.
  • See our complete section on make-up tips for contact lens wearers.

CLEANING TIPS FOR RGP WEARERS

If your lenses continue to fog when you put them on try these steps

RGP lens fogging up
(photo at SEC)
  1. Wash your hands immediately before handling lenses with non-cream dish soap. Usually any dish soap that has color is good.
  2. Rinse your hands off until they are “squeaky” clean.
  3. Rinse the lens off in water and wash it with the same soap, rubbing lightly between your fingers. Try to create some lather.
  4. Rinse the lenses off, while continually, lightly rubbing them under water until they feel “squeaky” clean
  5. Take 5-10 drops of the conditioning solution and rub the solution onto the lenses, for about 20 seconds.
  6. You can now place the lens in your eye, or you can lightly run it under water (1-2 seconds) before placing it into the eye
  7. If it still fogs, repeat all the steps except, rub in more conditioning  
  8. If it still fogs, you may have something on it, and need to bring the lens in to be professionally polished.

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