how bad can KC get ?

[jayuk]

Asylumxl

In all honesty if you have KC in one eye, you have a VERY high chance that it will affect the other eye in due course.....not trying to sound depressive but more realistic..

J

[Per]

My eye before last op was practically blind. Much worse than the photo-illustation above. With all reapect to blind people, it was colours and light, and I was able to see the skin on my nose, 2 cm from the eye. But I do not call that vision. If both my eyes had been that way I would have had to use a stick to walk out of my appartment and unable to perform in my job. That is as bad as it gets, I suppose.

I have lost years of my youth because of KC, and I am VERY happy to have had my diseased corneas replased. Thank heaven for surgery!!

[Andrew MacLean]

Hi

I think the original question about how bad does it get is a bit like 'how long is a piece of string'.

The truth is that for most KC sufferers it never gets too bad at all. If contact lenses are necessary, then there is a huge range of different lenses and lens materials that can be tailored to the needs of the individual.

Where surgery is necessary, there are options that come before a cornea graft.

If a graft is necessary, the experience of most is that this is a generally successful procedure. I went from having "waving hand" sight in my right eye (best corrected vision) to having 6/9 following surgery.

DON'T PANIC. Being told you have KC is scary, but if your condition progresses, come to the Board. Others have been there and will offer all the help and support they can.

all the best

Andrew

[GarethB]

The commonly reported statistics which I think are varified by the support group is that 90 - 95 % of people cope fine with glasses or contacts of one sort or another.

Of the 5 - 10 % that need surgery, most only require surgery on one eye if KC is in both. Of those that have surgery more than 95% are regarded as succesful with correcetd vision again with glasses or a contact lens of some sort.

So for all those recently diagnosed with KC try and forget about grafts as there is only a slim chance will be necessary.

KC can remain in just one eye and it can stop progressing as quick as it started. I am a firm beleiver a positive mental attitude goes a long way in controlling KC too.

Regards

Gareth

[Andrew MacLean]

Thanbks GB

Those are exactly the sorts of figures that I was trying to remember!

Andrew

[Per]

I share the views og Gareth and Andrew here. You may have no troubles with KC if you find qualified help to fit lenses or glasses. I answered only in my post to HOW bad it can get. No intensions to worry anyone:)

[GaryD007]

Thanks for all your responses!

I feel a lot better about my KC now and feel silly that I panicked in the first place.

[Andrew MacLean]

GaryD007

I don't know why you would feel silly about having raised a question that concerned you! The great things about this forum is that all of us can come along with our questions whatever they are.

I like your tag line!

Andrew