Newbie question

[AndyB]

Hi Guys,

Firstly hello - this is my first post here so be gentle....

I was diagnosed with Keratakonus a few years ago, and until now it has been managed with glasses. The vision in my left eye is still poor even with the glasses though, and as I would like to learn to drive I now need to get some lenses fitted. My question is this - is it best to go to an optician on the high street, or to get a referral through my GP to a hospital?

I'm slightly phobic about contact lenses, having had the fitting session from hell back when I was first diagnosed years ago. After that I have managed with glasses, so I guess my condition must be fairly stable.

Cheers

Andy

[Eddie S]

Hi Andy,

Welcome to the site.

I can sympathise with you as I too had the fitting from hell with my first pair of contact lenses. Strangely enough I had KC at that point, but my optician at that point hadnt spotted it.

I was determined to perservere back then as being around the age you are now (im now 34) I hated my glasses and wanted to do anything to get rid. However, my eyes went violently red, were sore etc. despite assurances from the optician that they were the 'perfect fit'.

Because of my painful experience I swapped to another optician (from the one that sounds like Hoots to the one that does it quickly!) who spotted my KC immediately.

The new optician said there was no point her trying to help me and immediately wrote to my GP who in turn referred me - initially to see my optometrist privately (GP paid for the visit!) and then (with the same optometrist) onto to Sussex Eye Hospital.

I would recommend a hospital visit - one because they have more experience of KC and secondly, if you (like me) have to try numerous types of lenses before a good fit is found, you wont have to pay an arm and a leg for the priviledge.

This is just my opinion and may vary from others here tho. I know there are some opticians who can help with KC and will do far better than my experience with "Hoots!"

Good luck!

Ed

[GarethB]

Andy,

Welcome to the forum.

With regards to driving, if you can get enough vision with glasses to read a normal modern number plate at 20.5 meters I would stick to glasses if you have a phobia about lenses.

If the only way you can achive this level of vision in the first instance I would get refferd by the GP to the local hospital, they may have a contact lens centre or sub contract the services out.

There is also the optoms list List of Optoms Willing to take on KC

You may find one near to you that can give further advise.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Gareth

[AndyB]

Cheers guys!

I think I need lenses as my left eye is very weak even with glasses. This makes focusing on anything while driving very tiring as I keep going cross eyed! I've had a look at the list of optometrists and there is one not far away from me in Tonbridge, so I'll give that a go.

I'll let y'all know how I get on.....

[Michael P]

Hi AndyB and welcome.

I agree with both Eddie and Gareth.

I think you should definitely try and get a referal from your GP. The biggest problem with this may be the delay before you are seen.

Even if you see a private optom initially, I still think it is a good idea to get into the NHS system as well.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Andrew MacLean]

Andy

That is a really respectable name you've got there.

I always liked the service I got at a hospital clinic (Aberdeen and then Glasgow Eye Infirmary and now at Gartneavel). One problem with high Street opticians is that they do not all have much experience of fitting KC eyes.

all the best

Andrew

[debbieo]

I got myself referred to an eye hospital first, who then referred me back to a local optom who has a specialist lens fitter & plenty of experience with KC.

I have had all kinds of awful experiences with high st optoms before this, so finding a firm with a friendly professional who knows why my eyes are so rubbish is a blessed relief.

And having the nice NHS voucher from the hospital makes the whole lens choosing experience much less painful too! last time I tried lenses I paid £200 each for them, and they still didn't fit! This time I've paid £50 each for one year's treatment and got a good fit almsot straightaway.

[AndyB]

Andrew - I can can assure you that while my name may be respectable, I most certainly am not..... Thanks to all of you for the advice - I have an appointment at the opticians tomorrow (I got his name off the list on this website so hopefully he's familiar with KC) to see if he can get my vision up to driving standard with glasses. I'll get him to write a letter to my GP recommending a referral to a specialist before I get any lenses fitted.

Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

[mike scott]

hi andy
welcome to the forum

that sounds like an excellent plan, and is usually the correct course of action.
go to the high st optom who will then write to your doctor who will then refer you to your nearest hospital specialist clinic. undoubtedly there are some high st optoms who recognise and are better at handling KC than others, but a specialist clinic at the hospital will have far more expertise in my opinion and resources for dealing with KC, also should you ever have any problematic "emergencies" with your KC you will already be in the NHS system.

good luck and keep us all posted

mike

[AndyB]

Just been to the opticians and it was good news! My KC is pretty stable from my last prescription, and my eyesight is good enough to drive with some new glasses. He has also sent a letter to my GP to ask for a referral to the hospital eye service.

Next mission - contact lenses!

Cheers to all of you for your valuable support, and I'll keep you posted.