Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site telesoft.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!telesoft!bruceb From: bruceb@telesoft.UUCP (Bruce Bergman @favorite) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: contact lens fiasco Message-ID: <303@telesoft.UUCP> Date: Fri, 21-Feb-86 15:58:58 EST Article-I.D.: telesoft.303 Posted: Fri Feb 21 15:58:58 1986 Date-Received: Mon, 24-Feb-86 21:20:41 EST Organization: TeleSoft, SanDiego CA Lines: 100 [line eater offering] Excuse me for being so bold as to intrude into the middle of your discussion (really?), but I have a question for all you med-types. First, let me give you some background to help determine the problem: I was fitted for my first pair of contacts some five years ago and was given hard lenses. These lenses always performed as good as could be expected, but in January of 1985 they, well, existed no longer. I decided it was time to try some new contacts. Ones that would give me sleep-in ability without the maximum hassle of soft contacts. Enter Dr. X. Dr. X is a kindly older gentleman; good natured. He was recomended to me by a good friend. I went to see Dr. X about some new contacts. We discussed the relative merits of several different brands and makes, and decided on a somewhat new brand - SILSIGHT. I was fitted for these new, dandy contacts and given a pair the same day. My vision was back to normal and I could sleep in these for 30 days. I was, needless to say, in heaven! These SILSIGHT contacts are manufactured by Dow & and are rated as extended wear contacts. The are slightly smaller than soft lenses, slightly bigger than hard. Since I have a somewhat large eye, they fit exactly on the colored part of my eye, with no edges showing. They have a delta-K rating of 320 (or close), so they should have no problem being in my eye for weeks on end, eh? These contacts were great! For the first nine months I just loved the babes (with an exception - later). About month 10, I noticed that they were slightly hazy on certain days. Month 11 and 12 and things were getting pretty bad. I could count on these puppies to remain clear as long as I didn't blink too much (hard to do!). I decided that this wasn't normal contact behavior. I went to Dr. X and explained to him my concerns and the symptoms. He looked at my contacts, tried cleaning them, etc., all to no avail. He sighed, came back into the examining room and said "Well, I guess they're just worn out. These contacts have a tendency to wear out in a year or so and yours just went out faster." I was NEVER told that these contacts would wear out in a year or so (why should I even think so, since my hard lasted so long), so I was stunned! I can't afford to fork out $90 a lens for these contacts. I would assume it is something a good doctor should tell their patients before they make their choice. My question is: Is this normal for contacts? I can understand that hard lenses would last longer than soft, but by such a large margin? Also, has anyone had similar experiences with these SILSIGHT contacts? I hear that Dow isn't selling them anymore (maybe due to the short life?) and B&L is thinking about picking them up. Anyone have any ideas as to what these contacts are really supposed to do? Last, any suggestions about what I should get in the way of replacements? Should I make Dr. X give me a replacement? I really don't want to make a big stink out of this whole thing, but if Dr. X was just not doing what he was supposed to do, I intend to get either my money back or new contacts. I know I'm going to have to get new contacts. This is fact. I want extended wear, and would prefer a contact that won't disappear in 12 months. I'd even consider SILSIGHT again, if this was just an isolated incident. I'd appreciate any responses - I really am bothered by the whole fiasco. thanks! bruce -- bang!- allegra!\ \ crash! \ gould9!--\ ihnp4! \ \ >--sdcsvax!---->--telesoft!bruceb (Bruce Bergman N7HAW) noscvax! / / scgvaxd! / sdencore!--/ ucbvax! / / talaris!-