Costs of Reverse Geometry RGP Lenses

Can someone give me a ballpark figure for Reverse Geometry RGP lenses?
I had RK 10 years ago, with all of the typical problems - right eye
is not correctable through glasses or softlens. I've read much about
the reverse geometry lenses, but haven't seen any dollar figures. I'm
looking for the lenses cost itself, not the fitting fees. Thanks.

 

These are considered specialty type lenses;the cost varies depending
on where you live(obviously) and are not fit by a lot of providers.
Some providers do a blanket fit fee including cl's, fitting and follow
ups and do not separate fees from the cl's but a general ballpark would
be from $100 to $200 per lens. I've had luck with them with post graft
patients (corneal transplants) and keratoconus. Have not done any (that I
can recall) on a post-rk. Mostly good success with aspheric gas perm
designs or even regular rgp designs on rk'ers.Have you seen anybody
about this??

frank

 

(Dave Schell) wrote in

I regularly fit post-RK patients, quite a few actually compared to the
average doctor. Most of the time if I don't use a soft lens - and I will
assume that you have tried a soft lens already - I have to use a reverse
geometry RGP. I maintain a large number of different sizes and designs to
shorten the fitting process, but even then it can take several hours of
total chair time. The cost of chair time can vary depending on the
practice location, overhead, etc. In order to get this number, the
optometrist will typically divide it between the professional services
component and the materials component. I like to keep it all in the
professional services component so that the patient can see that I am not
over-charging on the materials, but charging for my time and expertise.
Typically the inexperienced doctor will undercharge because they
underestimate the time and materials involved. I think Dr. Frank was close
on the price of the lenses, but he didn't include the professional services
portion.

DrG

 

(drfrank21) wrote in message Thank you for your response. I tried softlens and I still had some
double vision. My optometrist than went directly to reverse geometry
RGP lenses without trying "regular" RGPs. I've since have had someone
tell me that reverse geometry lenses should be the last course of
action as they cause additional stress on the eye over time and that I
should have tried non-revgeo lenses first. It sounds as if you
concur?

 

The only way to fit a correct RGP lens in your case due to the special shape
of your cornea is a special made RGP with a special backcurve lensdesign.
Normally a cornea is steeper in the central area comparing to the periferal
area where yours is flatter due to the RK.
Your cornea shape is not a "normal" one and therefore the need of a special
made RGP, absolutly non standaard or regular, is recommended

I've since have had someone

The person who told you this is a professional in contactlensfitting?

Jan (normally Dutch spoken)

 

(Dave Schell) wrote in

I disagree with the advice given. On Thursday I gave a presentation at the
Contact Lens and Eyecare Symposium, summarizing three years' worth of data
on fitting post-refractive surgery patients with RGP reverse geometry
lenses. They do not cause additional stresses on the eye, and are
typically my first option.

DrG