[Myopic22]

Contact lenses during stem cell transplant process

by Myopic22 on Tue Apr 19, 2016 5:51 am

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last fall at age 53. I anticipate autologous stem cell transplant soon. I have been wearing contact lenses for high myopia since childhood and have been advised to refrain from contact lens wear during transplant. I would like to hear from other contact lens wearers about whether they too had to avoid contact lens wear and when they were able to resume wear.

[rumnting]

Re: Contact lenses during stem cell transplant process

by rumnting on Tue Apr 19, 2016 2:27 pm

My husband is a high myope (-10) contact lens wearer, and an ophthalmologist.

He didn't feel well enough through 2 weeks of the transplant period to even put his lenses in if he wanted to! Taking the possible infection risks out of it - make sure you have a decent pair of back up glasses! You might not see as well with them, but it is essential that you have them. His trans­plant was 4.5 years ago.

Last fall he had to go through D-PACE (a pretty intensive chemo regimen that also bottoms out your immune system). Again, there were several days where he didn't feel good enough to properly care for his lenses, and he switched to his glasses.

You will most likely be sleeping a lot for a week or so, and shouldn't ever sleep with your lenses in (even if they are daily wear).

[kjpoppit]

Re: Contact lenses during stem cell transplant process

by kjpoppit on Thu Apr 21, 2016 12:56 am

I chose to not wear my contacts. I didn't want to even take a chance at getting an infection. As mentioned in earlier responses, I was flat out exhausted too for a couple weeks. Just the act of taking a shower or drying myself off was a major chore.