UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello,

I was diagnosed with KC which is worse in one eye than the other in my early 20's as it was missed many times in my teens!
I have been told on my last eye exam with Specsavers 2 years ago I needed hard contacts and had to find a specialist...

However it seems I cant find an opticians which can suppy and fit hard lenses.
Anyone know if any in the north east (sunderland, gateshead, newcastle) who can do this without having to go to a NHS eye hospital and waiting months?

I am happy I have found this site, as I have often felt like i was the only one with this condition and struggle to get help or know more info on it

Hi KAB and welcome. If you look at Northumberland in the list of KC friendly optoms on the home page of this site www.keratoconus-group.org.uk/optoms/index.php you'll find a couple of optometrists there. Although going through a hospital clinic to get lenses usually does involve more waiting time, it does give the advantage of contact lenses on the NHS ie at a cost of £52 per lens which can be quite a saving if the prescription needs changing within 12 months as there's then no extra charge. But you're quite right that you'll get lenses more quickly outside the hospital system. You pays your money and takes your choice!
Good luck
Anne

Anne,

Thanks for the information!

I will have to investigate it further as I would like to see what my options are in terms of treatments, as wearing hard contact lenses may prove difficult for me as I would struggle putting them in and taking them out lol - When I was first told about this condition I wasnt given much information on it and the info I was told was quite daunting and scary and to be honest a bit of a shock as it was never picked up on throughout my teens...

It's getting to the point now though where its scares me in case its got so bad its untreatable with contacts - I can see through the left eye when the right is closed (which was what i was told it was worse in) but any writing is blurred from a distance but OK when the left eye is closed and right open so it more so effects the one eye, I heard as you get older the progression of this slows then stops and im 28 now so hope its not getting worse!

Hospital clinics are able to dispense a wide range of lenses, including hybrids, soft lenses, piggy back lenses and hard lenses of different sorts. In my experience the decision, taken in consultation with the patient, is based on the best fit to the patients's particular clinical needs.

Andrew