Masturbating/Sex and KC x2

[Andrew MacLean]

Reality

This little quote is from the article to which I posted a link above.

Secular medical authorities nowadays universally proclaim that masturbation is physiologically harmless and that it may even be a normal, natural form of release. Physiologically there seems to be no harm in masturbating

By all means ask your ophthalmologist about this, but be prepared for him or her to say something remarkably similar to what is quoted here.

Andrew

[Lynn White]

Brigid...

Although a definitive cause has not been found, a lot of work is now going on in genetics. Here is a technical article outlining the discovery of a gene location for KC

http://jmg.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/42/1/88

The pertinent quote here is :

KC is the leading cause of corneal transplantation in developed countries. Therefore, geneticists are working to map the gene responsible for familial KC and so greatly increase the little knowledge we have of this pathology. The results of the present genome-wide linkage and refinement studies indicate that a major gene for KC, responsible for 50–60% of familial KC cases studied, is located within a 1.69 Mb region (one of two small regions, both <0.5 Mb) at 2p24.

This is therefore no-ones "fault" - not the person with KC nor his/her parents. As research unfolds, them more will be understood!

[Andrew MacLean]

Lynn

This is interesting stuff, not least for the fact that they only believe that a bare majority of familial KC is explicable by this gene.

Then there is the vast number of non-familiar Keratoconics (people like myself).

Then there is the remaining 40+ percent of familial keratoconics for whom this explanation does not work.

For a long time I have been thinking that Keratoconus is more properly described as a symptom of other unknown pathologies.

Andrew

On the 'fault'question, this is a new take on an old theme. At one time it was thought that anyone who was ill must be living with the consequences of some deviation in their past. If the fault could not be found in the sufferer, it was assumed that blame must lie with the parents or more remote ancestors.

This was a general prejudice and was not specific to any culture, race or religion.

Nowadays we see the old metaphors being dusted off and given a new 'genetic' spin. There really is nothing new under the sun!

A

[Andrew MacLean]

Reality,

slight cange again in direction for this string, but I was wondering how things are with your KC? I think you said tht you wre diagnosed 4 years ago and that your condition had deteriorated since then.

What measures are being taken to manage your condition? do you wear contact lenses?

You will have seen from the forum that people are first diagnosed at different stages of their KC, with much earlier diagnosis being made possible with new "mapping" laser technology.

Have they said anything about future teatment?

All the best

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

Hallo Reality,
A few thoughts on your symptoms, meant to be serious.
About things that might cause blurry vision/itchy eyes post-sex:
1. blood pressure - you've already considered. I'd agree it's possible - though like you would have thought it might also apply post-exercise. I suppose it might be poart of a combined effect with some of the things below. Please do get your blood pressure checked if you've any concerns - its quick and easy and can at least rule something out.
2. dehydration. Se tends to get one hot and sweaty, and you lose more fluid producing ejaculate (or lubrication for women). Is it possible you're ending up a bit dehydrated? - that can cause dry itchy eyes, and sometimes blurry vision. Can you go on a campaign - particularly in this hot weather - to drink more water/fruit juice and see if that helps? - nd less alcohol and coffee, which tend to dehydrate one.
3. Oxygen debt. Are you one of those people who find themselves holding their breath when they come? - or get near to coming? Like all your muscles go into seize-up for the duration and your lung muscles stop going in and out with the rest? (I gather there are women who stop breathing in and out so much they get bad post-sex headaches from the oxygen debt they get into.) Is it possible your eyes are tellin gyou that they just need a bit more oxygen, please? - and fresh air, or remind yourself to take another breath regularly, may fix the proble?
4. post-orgasmic rosy glow - when your brain just wants to chill out and relax for a while (you know the feeling I mean?) it probably doesn't want to be arsed to try and sort out anything difficult for a while. SO it probably isn't coping so well with the blurry vision you have all the time, so you notice it more. (I agree this explains blurriness more than itch.)
5. mineral deficiency. I seem to remember hearing a theory that one of the triggers for KC could be due to a mineral deficiency (was it zinc?) The production of ejaculate/lubrication, not to mention get all that hot and excited, etc (!), will use up the body's resources so they can't be used for other things. If you're running low on a particular mineral, maybe there's not enough to go round when other demands take priority?? - though I'd have thought this was more likely to be a long-term effect than to give the immediate post-sex effects - unless there's a short-time diversion of resources that affects tear production??
HOWEVER if this latter may be a factor, the problem isn't sex itself! - after all, the human race would soon have died out if lots of us didn't indulge! THe problem (unless you have another medical condition leading to the deficiency) is in not eating a healthy enough diet to fuel all the various forms of exercise you take. YOu could try getting tested for mineral deficiencies - or even food intolerances which might mean you aren't digesting something properly - or concentrate of getting a really healthy diet.

As regards long-term KC causes, and the causes of old rumours about "it makes ou go blind" ..... is it possible that, in a world before the Disability Discrimination Act, Incapacity benefits, unemployment benefits, etc, the thought of going blind and therefore not being able to earn one's living as a fully-sighted person might would have been one of the main fears/threats to the future of an (apparently) healthy young man? In other words, it was not the likelihood of there being a real link that caused the juxtaposition, but the use of the biggest possible threat to someone's long term future used as a social control of undesired (by the threateners) behaviour)?
Other possibilities - well, maybe the link with a mineral deficiency - pasticularly in the old days of widespread malnutrition and deficiency diseases, where production of semen drained the scarce resources so there was not enough left for proper eye development
In parts of the world today, there is a lot of blindness caused by infectious diseases linked with lack of clean water and sanitation and hence lack of personal hygiene, contaminated water, fly-borne infections, etc. Is it possible that increased contact between the hands the the "nether regions" in such conditions - especially the hand used for eating - could increase the risk of getting one of the infections that causes blindness?
SOmeone's already mentioned the link between eye conitions developing/deteriorating at the age when sex drive and experimentation increase. Is the following also possible: oung man has deteriorating eyesight, which means it is getting harder for him to hold down a decent job and his future job prospects are very bad. SO he can't get married as has no prospects of supporting a family, and has no spare cash to hire a prostiture, so takes the do-it-yourself route for lack of options; eyesight keeps deteriorating making situation worse, money less, women less attracted, options fewer......
Rosemary

[Andrew MacLean]

Mineral deficiency in KC

I have seen reports linking KC to a magnesium deficiency, rosemary.

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

A further quick thought:
reality, do you take out or leave in your lenses?
Is it possible that your eye pains are the result of you getting, errrrm, hot and bothered, with lenses still in?
- which could be increased intra-ocular pressure, screwing up eyes at crucial moment, or other things?
Rosemary

[samba_elite]

I reckon the geezer was on a wind-up from the start.


Just my opinion.

[brigid downing]

well maybe but maybe not. That is for the moderator to assess and act appropriately. I trust John completely to make that call if necessary.

For my part I don't think he was - which may be naieve, but then i would rather be thought of as naieve than hard or cynical.

But anyway, this is beside the point. A topic was raised which some did not wish to discuss - as is their right, they can remain silent. For myself I have said nothing I am ashamed of so what has the "hoaxer" won! If someone, the original poster or someone completely different, has gained insight, information or comfort then that surely is the purpose of the forum.

I think any subject is fit for discussion if it is what people want to talk about - and can do so in an appropriate manner.

Brigid

[Andrew MacLean]

I do not think that Reality as "on a wind up", but even if he was he did raise a question that vexes many people: "Is it [my] fault that my sight is poor?"

If anyone has had that fear allayed, we owe R a debt of gratitude.

Andrew