Tips and Suggestions Please

[Emma B]

Hi, Im new to this site, I didnt even know it existed until I read an old school friends posting on facebook. My name is Emma and I am 32 years old, I was diagnosed fifteen years ago with Keratoconus in my right eye,but it only affected my vision slightly. Vision deteriorated greatly when I got Pregnant four years ago and has slowly got worse in my right eye.

I have been under a specialist for over two years now and she has only now got around to ordering me lenses, due to cancelled appointments and many wasted appointments, as she is running behind and has no time to fit lenses to find the correct one. Finally this has been rectified well as much as it can be with this condition and the new lenses arrive late January, unless my appointment is cancelled again,

I understand also that even if lenses fit me correctly today, they may be useless in a couple of months time is this correct and you have to start again to find new suitable lenses

The lenses do concern me, as my sight is so bad I have a severe turn and very long eyelashes which keep getting in the way. I was just wondering if any one had any tips or suggestions on how to combat these issues.

Also are there any other options available rather than contact lenses.

Secondly, I have only been diagnosed in my right eye, but my left eye seems to be clear. IS this normal or will it eventually affect both eyes.

Thank you Emma

[Andrew MacLean]

Hello Emma and welcome to the forum.

Your second question is easier to answer than your first: keratoconus usually starts in a single eye and often develops later in the second eye. So that's a 'maybe'.

Keratoconus is a degenerative condition, but it also has long periods of stability. One pair of lenses can give good correction for years, so don't worry too much about your prescription or 'fit' altering. I am a little perplexed at the time it seems to be taking for your lenses to be dispensed, but I know that my experience in Scotland is not typical of the whole UK.

Every good wish. And, all the best in January when you pick up your lenses. Are you seen by a hospital based optometrist, or by someone on the High Street?

Andrew

[Emma B]

Hi Thanks for you help and information regarding the condition. My specialist does not seem to want to answer many questions in to much detail and just tells me everything will be okay, but this does not help when you have so many questions to ask.

I am under a hospital optometrist, but she is very relaxed and does not seem to be in any rush lol. Well at least I now know that it is gradual and may at some point come into my other eye.

Thank you Emma

[Sweet]

Emma,

Oh there you are!! I was looking around for your post after you contacted me on facebook! LOL!! I will move this post to the general forum as you will get more replies there. This let off steam forum is a place where you can shout and vent, very useful, but it isn't checked as often.

You can get KC in one eye only, but they should check both when they see you. Unfortunately it is true that you can get lenses which you can't use by the time they have arrived as your prescription has changed, but this will settle down. It is only in the very beginning that this is the case or if you change to a different lens. I haven't had to change my RGP lens prescription for years!

Hoping that your specialist will get you fitted with lenses soon. Are you going to Cardiff? I was seen in the hospital and then sent to a local optometrist where they fitted me with lenses, the hospital doesn't have to do it. This means that they have more time and can get you an appointment quicker. Let me know how you get on!

Take good care of you! Am very big now, 35 weeks tomorrow!! Hehe, can't wait until February!!

Loads of love, Claire X x X

[John Smith]

Hi Emma, and welcome to the forum!

As Andrew said, things in KC are always difficult to predict. Your good eye may never get KC, it may only get it slightly, or it could overtake the current bad eye. Usually though, these things are gradual, with small changes happening in short bursts.

I know of people here who are on the same contact lenses that are over half your age!

As for alternatives, take a look at http://www.keratoconus-group.org.uk/tre ... index.html - I myself stayed in specs for about 10 years, before progressing through regular RGP corneal lenses and sclerals until I ended up with two corneal transplants.

All the best, and I hope your lenses work out well for you.

John
(Claire's hubby)

[Accuvision Optom]

Hi Emma,

As you have discovered from the replies here, it is always a possibility that the second eye may develop keratoconus at some stage and in fact from experience it may already be there in an extremely mild form. The best way to find out is to have your corneal topography assessed - mapping the shape of the cornea.

Aside from the usual suspects of contact lenses (of which there are many types now!) and specs, there is a procedure called corneal collagen cross-linking which improves the strength of the cornea with the aim of stabilising the shape or indeed preventing future shape changes. In limited cases it is also possible to improve vision. Other options include INTACS and even implantable lenses.

Anthony

Accuvision
Laser Eye Clinics