Still waiting for contacts

[Bruce O]

Hey all,

It's been a while since I have been on the forum. I'm a medical student and I was diagnosed with KC just over a year ago and after 2 consultaions with my consultant and 2 with optom I'm still without lenses. Tried several contacts with my optom but none seemed to improve my visual acuity more than specs, which don't do much anyway. Optom said something about having another astigmatism that was brought out by correcting the visual acuity with lenses which sounds like rubbish to me.(only said this after i made him explain to me what the plan was and that he wasn't being clear). He has now referred me to city eye hosp(Brum) as they have a wider repetoire of lenses apparently. I can't wait till i can be able to see clearly again and i can drive and there aren't questions on my fitness to practice in the future. Luckingly my Med school's been pretty supportive so far.

[GarethB]

Bruce,

Brum shares some of its consultans with Walsgrave in Cov and they sorted me out fine.

Saresh was the lens specialiast I had and I am sure he is also in Brum too.

He is really patient and explains everything. He seems to open up more when patients take an interest in their treatment.

On one visit he told me many patients just let him get on withit which is really frustrating because he has to really dig to get the information regarding lens comfort and such like.

Hope all works out for you.

[Bruce O]

Thanks Gareth,

Funny thing is I did my Opthalmology placement at City around christmas last year. Little did i know I'd still be waiting for lenses and would get referred there. Could have asked for advice while sitting through lots and lots of clinics.

[Matthew_]

Bruce,
Sounds tough; good luck with it!

[Andrew MacLean]

Bruce

I think that they call clients of the health service "patients" because the thing we need more than anything is patience.

By the way, how many medical students do se have? You all have particular difficulties that the rest of us do not share. all the best to you all.

Andrew

[Amarpal]

Hi

It's good to hear from more medical students- its supportive to me as I will be apllying to medical school later this year! Good luck.

[Sallyuk]

Hi Bruce

I am a midwifery student (qualify in September!) and I wish the support from my profession was as good for me!

Anyway back to the real issue I was diagnosed in April 2004 and I have only just got some lenses that are nearing what I need - although, darkness or dimmed lights are still a huge problem. I have had to visit my optometrist every month for the last year and a bit. It took four months from diagnosis to consultant appointment and then another four months from there to seeing an optometrist, a further six months before I had a lens for my right eye and I only got a lens for my left eye after 18 months! During all this I had my essays and assignments along with all the reading, computer and research work to keep up with. However, I am feeling a lot happier now as I can definitely notice the improvement in visual quality. I don't think people outside of KC sufferers can understand how frustrating and longwinded the process to improved vision can be! Everyone assumes you just go to the opometrist and they give you either lenses or glasses! Hope things get moving for you. All the best for your studies - just think your experience will benefit your understanding of patient frustration when you graduate as a physician!

Sally