Quicktopic posts: Feb 2002

[Amanda Stigle]

Hi everyone
I have been reading your entries with interest. There are many different types of lenses available.I have recently had discussions with an optomotrist at Moorfields about having a list and description of the different types of lenses available and their uses. This will enable people to make informed decisions about their management of KC.

[Amanda Stigle]

cont.
Although most corneal grafts are "successful" there is a risk of failure, and non-invasive options ie lenses, I believe are well worth considering first.

[Christopher Jackson]

I also used to be a County swimmer and still have a 40 length burst 2/3 times a week!
I have been wearing goggles for 15 years now so the effects of the water is no longer a problem.
The only problem is when my goggles leak or are forgotten and I have to leave the water after a few minutes as my eyes are too sensitive to continue.
Thanks to lane swimming I am no longer a danger in the pool because without my lenses I cannot see approaching swimmers until a painful collision happens.
Anyway as with most people on this great site I will not complain -just adapt and continue to have the best quality of life possible.

[Kate Love]

I have read the latest barch of messages with great interest. I can't say that I have ever been a particularly keen swimmer, but I know that when I did go I suffered terribly form sore eyes, and my mum used to tell me to stop ri=ubbing my eyes. I don't mind swimming so much now because I can see where I am in the pool thanks to scleral lenses! A bit scarey when you think that I have taught doxens of children to swim! I agree with the comment about allergies - I suffer badly form rhinitis, and now suffer from hayfever (although obviously not in this cold, wet, windy weather!) Also, the worse the rhinitis, the more mucus build up I get behind my lens.

What age were most of you diagnosed with KC? I was about 30, but on reflection, I had the symptoms in my teens - it just got a lot worse when I hit the big 30. What will happen this year when i hit 40??!!

I have been following the progress of all of you who have had grafts. What finally made you take the plunge? How long do you have to have off work?

I haven't contributed to the site for ages, so I though I would make this a long one. I t is great to think that so many of us are in contact with one another. I do have one worry, however - Sue Ingram has been very quiet since her holiday...are you ok Sue??

[John Smith]

Hi Kate,

I don't know about Robert, but I've been getting on pretty well since the graft - the redness is almost cleared now (just over 3 weeks), and my eye drops have diminished from 19 per day to 8; this will go down to 4 at the 4 week point on Friday.

I was originally advised that I'd need 2-3 weeks off work following the op, I was given permission by the consultant to go back at the three week point, but my company (American) have a "duty of care" (which translates: they have a duty to make sure that I don't sue them!) so won't let me go back to my desk until given the OK by the company Doctor - who I'm seeing on Friday. They're then suggesting I work my way up to full days gradually - I'm grateful for this as I am experiencing headaches after a couple of hours in front of the PC.

John

[Andrew Hill]

Thanks for the replies, nice to know I am in mutual company.

Seems I started a debate on "swimming and chloride", I have been curious for sometime and your comments do make me think.

_______________________________

Just a bit of advice really.

After seeing the specialist at Leicester Royal Infirmary last month, she prescribed a new lens for my grafted eye. I had not changed that lens for nearly 4 years - my vision was excellent so didn't feel the need.

I had to pay £40-50 for the lens, when I got it 3 weeks later I found my vision was worse. After persevering with the lens I have given up and gone back to my old lens.

What I want to know is - when I go back in April (nearest appointment) and she prescribes another lens or "has another go" should I have to pay again? and keep paying?

Comments?

[Ian]

Watchdog Health-check
---------------------

I wonder if it would be worth contacting the BBC about running a feature to highlight KC on their Health-check programme. This might highlight the fact that no national policy exists for its treatment and why some people will be put forward for cornea graph before all lens options (such as sclerals) have been attempted.

[Robert Smith]

Hi everybody

It seems as though the discussion group has really taken off in the last few weeks!

Progress - graft was 4 weeks ago and I am not looking back. Sight is very good though still blurred - I can see the top three lines on a sight chart where before I could not even see the chart itself. Although I had about 24 hours of misery and 48 hours of discomfort I can honestly say that I can hardly notice it at all. To all those who are afraid of a graft, as I was, then I would think long and hard. However I must say that I was totally intolerant of lenses so that was not an option.

On the work front I am not going back for another 4 weeks - it seems foolish to jeopardise my vulnerable eye just for a few weeks - I would rather, and so would my employer, make sure that it is well on the way to healing before I take any risks. Unlike John I have quite an active job and it just does not seem worth it.

On the swimming debate I swam all through my youth - just to get out of any form of team sport! I always was, and still am of course, very sensitive to the chlorine and would come out with streaming eyes. However I have never been prone to any form of allergy or rhinitus (if that's how you spell it). Perhaps people who are prone to KC are also very reactive to chlorine rather than the chlorine causing the KC - otherwise wouldn't rather a lot of people have it?

Robert

[Mike Oliver]

Hallo all. After a quiet period the discussion has really taken off again. Personally I see no connection between swimming pools and KC. I was diagnosed at age 11 and have never learnt to swim. I agree completely with the suggestion that we are more sensitive generally and susceptible to allergies and similar reactions-- in my ignorance I assume this is what atopic means.
The whole question of prescription charges for lenses needs to be pursued as does the supply of spare lens [of all types]. Very few of us wear lenses as a matter of choice. We have to wear them in order to live and work so they are a medical necessity. These issues were raised at last year's conference and again and again at the recent Group members meeting. Any comments and views on this would be very welcome
If any of you are as daft as me and interested in doing all or part of the Thames Path walk, please look at the item on the main site and contact me

[helen williams]

In response to the question of paying for lenses - i totally agree that we should have them on prescription. I have been trying various lenses for 6 months now and still haven't found a pair that suit my eyes. In total I have probably spent about £200 in the last 6 months on lenses and different solutions which I can't even wear! Where is the sense in that? It it totally wrong and I feel very cross that I have had to pay for these things when today I am still not wearing any lenses. Now waiting to see of soft lenses will suit my eyes - but again am going to have to pay for them.

Regarding the swimming and KC - I go swimming nearly every other day and my eyes are fine. I suffer from allergies of every nature - but the chlorine does certainly not affect my eyes.