Air optix or o2 optix-- newbie help

nessa131 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-17-2010, 12:06 PM

ok well I wore contacts like 10 years ago as a teen and wanted to go back due to the convenience of contacts. I am on the 3rd trial pair and finally got a brand that works! (I am very sensitive)
The doctor gave me O2 Optix in the left eye and air optix in the right. both for astigmatism. I know that there is a slight difference with the dk/t values on the lenses. Does anyone know what the values are? I know one is 110. but don;t know which one... i just need the most comfortable long wearing lens available.

My other question is... i seem to get halo's for about the first 30 minutes I wear them. then they stop. any ides what causes this?

thanks in advance!!!!!

Knotlob · #2 (**permalink**) 04-17-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nessa131

ok well I wore contacts like 10 years ago as a teen and wanted to go back due to the convenience of contacts. I am on the 3rd trial pair and finally got a brand that works! (I am very sensitive)
The doctor gave me o2 optix in the left eye and air optix in the right. both for astigmatism. I know that there is a slight difference with the dk/t values on the lenses. Does anyone know what the values are? I know one is 110. but don;t know which one... i just need the most comfortable long wearing lens available.

My other question is... i seem to get halo's for about the first 30 minutes I wear them. then they stop. any ides what causes this?

thanks in advance!!!!!

Hello nessa131

Ciba Vision Air Optix for Astigmatism is made of 67% Polymer (lotrafilcon B). Dk 110 (oxygen permeability). Dk is not the same thing as Dk/t.

As far as I know the O2 Optix has been replaced by the Air Optix and both were/are made of lotrafilcon B. They also quote a Dk/t (at -3.00D) 138. The thinner the lens, the higher the Dk/t value, which represents the actual oxygen transmissibility. I don't know where your optician got the O2 Optix, unless it was older stock (still within it's use by date) but eventually they will become unavailable.

I'm not sure what causes haloes. If the lens was dirty/greasy then I would expect haloes and at night if the lens is too small a diameter for your dilated pupils, you may have haloes also.

Presumably it's something to do with the tear film settling down and stabilising if it disappears after 30 minutes. Perhaps other forum members can offer some ideas or knowledge.

knotlob

nessa131 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-17-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Hello nessa131

Ciba Vision Air Optix for Astigmatism is made of 67% Polymer (lotrafilcon B). Dk 110 (oxygen permeability). Dk is not the same thing as Dk/t.

As far as I know the O2 Optix has been replaced by the Air Optix and both were/are made of lotrafilcon B. They also quote a Dk/t (at -3.00D) 138. The thinner the lens, the higher the Dk/t value, which represents the actual oxygen transmissibility. I don't know where your optician got the O2 Optix, unless it was older stock (still within it's use by date) but eventually they will become unavailable.

I'm not sure what causes haloes. If the lens was dirty/greasy then I would expect haloes and at night if the lens is too small a diameter for your dilated pupils, you may have haloes also.

Presumably it's something to do with the tear film settling down and stabilising if it disappears after 30 minutes. Perhaps other forum members can offer some ideas or knowledge.

knotlob

Thanks so much for the quick response- i didn't rub them last night to clean them I just put them in clear care disinfecting and rinsed them real well this morning. Today has been the worst day with haloing--i'm sure it'lll get better! I can get them in and out pretty easy now.

I was figuring it was an older lens--- so i shouldn't even be worrying with how they feel... right vs. left i mean!

thanks again! any other ideas?

Knotlob · #4 (**permalink**) 04-17-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nessa131

Thanks so much for the quick response- i didn't rub them last night to clean them I just put them in clear care disinfecting and rinsed them real well this morning. Today has been the worst day with haloing--i'm sure it'lll get better! I can get them in and out pretty easy now.

I was figuring it was an older lens--- so i shouldn't even be worrying with how they feel... right vs. left i mean!

thanks again! any other ideas?

Well you could try cleaning just one of the lenses thoroughly by rubbing (probably best before you disinfect them) and just disinfect the other lens with Clear Care without rubbing. See if the one that wasn't thoroughly cleaned by rubbing is worse as regards haloes. Both lenses (O2 Optix & Air Optix) are thought by some on this forum to be the same!

If cleaning is the problem you can buy a cleaner for soft lenses but normally Clear Care should do a pretty decent job.

knotlob

Unicorn3 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-19-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Both lenses (O2 Optix & Air Optix) are thought by some on this forum to be the same!

knotlob

Not to get off on a tangent, but do you believe that O2 Optix and Air Optix are the same lenses sold in different boxes and (I'm guessing) at different prices? What does this mean for nessa131?

Knotlob · #6 (**permalink**) 04-19-2010, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unicorn3

Not to get off on a tangent, but do you believe that O2 Optix and Air Optix are the same lenses sold in different boxes and (I'm guessing) at different prices? What does this mean for nessa131?

Since O2 Optix have, I think, been superseded by Air Optix, it means that nessa131 will have to wear, presumably, Air Optix. The optician would be aware that O2 Optix are being phased out, so it doesn't make sense to trial nessa131 with a lens with no future availability - unless the optician thinks it is the same.

I think Mail Order websites were originally stating both lenses were the same, but they no longer seem to do so.

There was quite a lot of discussion on this forum previously, but I think the manufacturer's claimed difference is a coating. However, there is no hard technical information on this coating and whether this coating was present on the O2 Optix lens. So it is not possible to state definitively that the two lenses are the same. Possibly the recommended lives of the two lenses are different following FDA Approval and the cynics amongst us may think this is why the O2 Optix was replaced by the Air Optix

.

knotlob

nessa131 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-19-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Since O2 Optix have, I think, been superseded by Air Optix, it means that nessa131 will have to wear, presumably, Air Optix. The optician would be aware that O2 Optix are being phased out, so it doesn't make sense to trial nessa131 with a lens with no future availability - unless the optician thinks it is the same.

I think Mail Order websites were originally stating both lenses were the same, but they no longer seem to do so.

There was quite a lot of discussion on this forum previously, but I think the manufacturer's claimed difference is a coating. However, there is no hard technical information on this coating and whether this coating was present on the O2 Optix lens. So it is not possible to state definitively that the two lenses are the same. Possibly the recommended lives of the two lenses are different following FDA Approval and the cynics amongst us may think this is why the O2 Optix was replaced by the Air Optix

.

knotlob

I did stop by and ask the nurse at the Dr's office today and she said that one was a monthly lens and the other a 2 week lens.... But I can't find anything on that on line to confirm...... It leaves alot of questions for me...

I just hope I can get them to work reguardless of the name on the box! LOL

I did want to kinda explain-- I'm not sure I am calling the halo's as the right things..... If you watch a movie on t.v. and they show an angel there is a bright light around them... well that is sorta what I see when I am saying halo's.
It looks like i see not double but an extra half of a person and the bright light around them. It normally just happens when i first indert them--but as the day goes on- if they get dry- or gunk from my eye on them-- they tend to do this...but it goes away sometimes on it's own, sometimes with use of drops..... does anyone else have this problem? and is what i am having called halo's? (sorry if i was wrong)

nessa131 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-19-2010, 06:35 PM

P.S. you guys are so great on here!!!!!!!

Juicer · #9 (**permalink**) 04-20-2010, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nessa131

I did stop by and ask the nurse at the Dr's office today and she said that one was a monthly lens and the other a 2 week lens.... But I can't find anything on that on line to confirm...... It leaves alot of questions for me...

I just hope I can get them to work reguardless of the name on the box! LOL

I did want to kinda explain-- I'm not sure I am calling the halo's as the right things..... If you watch a movie on t.v. and they show an angel there is a bright light around them... well that is sorta what I see when I am saying halo's.
It looks like i see not double but an extra half of a person and the bright light around them. It normally just happens when i first indert them--but as the day goes on- if they get dry- or gunk from my eye on them-- they tend to do this...but it goes away sometimes on it's own, sometimes with use of drops..... does anyone else have this problem? and is what i am having called halo's? (sorry if i was wrong)

I'm glad Lens 101 has been helpful to you so far. Now let's see if we can get a handle on your halos.

I did a Google image search for "contact lens light halo" and this is the picture I found. Is this an example of what you see?

nessa131 · #10 (**permalink**) 04-20-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juicer

I'm glad Lens 101 has been helpful to you so far. Now let's see if we can get a handle on your halos.

I did a Google image search for "contact lens light halo" and this is the picture I found. Is this an example of what you see?

yes this is vedry similair to what I see- only my vision is more crisp it's not as hazy and yes- just around lights or headlights or where the sun is reflecting....I will try to research some more online and see if I come up with anything else. But I am doing good with the contatcs- never less than 8 hours -- but it seems like the o2 optix feel better in my eyes...... I hope they don't phase them out!

Let me ask you this though.... I can feel the edge of the contacts in my eyes-- sometimes it feels almost sharp. Is this a fit issue? can it be fixed with my follow up visit with my dr.? I didn't know if maybe they could change the cylinder or something to make them more comfortable.....

Thanks again!

Knotlob · #11 (**permalink**) 04-21-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nessa131

yes this is vedry similair to what I see- only my vision is more crisp it's not as hazy and yes- just around lights or headlights or where the sun is reflecting....I will try to research some more online and see if I come up with anything else. But I am doing good with the contatcs- never less than 8 hours -- but it seems like the o2 optix feel better in my eyes...... I hope they don't phase them out!

Let me ask you this though.... I can feel the edge of the contacts in my eyes-- sometimes it feels almost sharp. Is this a fit issue? can it be fixed with my follow up visit with my dr.? I didn't know if maybe they could change the cylinder or something to make them more comfortable.....

Thanks again!

Hello Nessa131

I'm glad your contacts are going well.

I don't think you will feel the edge of soft lenses, but even with some soft lenses without astigmatism correction, I could feel one lens more comfortable than the other. My optician said it was probably because I had more astigmatism in my right eye than in my left. It's an eye sensitivity issue and you will probably get used to it. I doubt the optician could change the cylinder, as that is set by your astigmatism correction required.

But certainly discuss it with your eye care professional anyway. They should be checking the fit.

Some lenses are more comfortable than others (depending on how thick and how flexible they are and also the lens material). I think toric lenses tend to be slightly less comfortable than plane spherical only correction lenses, but many people wear toric lenses and find them OK, so stick with them for the time being.

knotlob

Eyeofthetiger · #12 (**permalink**) 04-21-2010, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nessa131

I did stop by and ask the nurse at the Dr's office today and she said that one was a monthly lens and the other a 2 week lens.... But I can't find anything on that on line to confirm...... It leaves a lot of questions for me...

I just hope I can get them to work regardless of the name on the box! LOL

I guess that's what's most important, right?