Quicktopic posts: Dec 2002

[listener@umbilical.demon.]

Dear Harpo:

I don't know the rules for driving these days.

BUT

I did (when I was a sixth former and learning to drive) try once driving with only one of my contacts in. never again! I found
it very very hard to drive with only one eye working because,
not having binocular vision, I couldn't judge distances at all
well, including not being able to tell how far away I was from
the car in front. Maybe if you are more used than I then was to having only one eye working well, then you are used to making
"coping strategies" for judging distances? - but I found it very unsettling and not at all safe.

Also, you've got a restricted field of view and wouldn't be able to see cars (taxis, bikes, etc) cutting in from the "blind"
side, which again would worry me.

I'm now used to wearing only one contact at a time, and I a)
don't drive b) still find it hard to judge distances and keep
making mistakes, eg. banging my knees on the edge of furniture
as I go past and c) sometimes have problems, eg. weaving through crowds on railway stations, not seeing things on my "blind side".
I don't see any reason, though, why you shouldn't drive when the hydrops clears - so I'd be inclined to try to postpone your next lesson for a while, and go on when the fog is clearing. At the
price of driving lessons, you'll want to be sure of making best
use of the fee! If your instructor won't charge you anyway, at
this notice. It depends a bit on your instructor - if you do
start a lesson and find you're struggling with only one eye
working, would he just take you home, or do something else
(maybe how to do maintenance checks or work a petrol station,
for example) so you are learning something for the lesson price?

Rosemary
--
Rosemary F. Johnson

[sarah marsh]

hi everyone !
well i havent posted anything for a while but do read postings each day! just thought that i would share my good news with you all, i had an eye sight test to make sure if i can drive again an few weeks ago and had new prescription glasses made and on saturday i drove for the first time in 18 months( and after transplant ). i was very nervous but felt good!!!!!!!!
although i have picked up conjunctivitus in my 'normal ' eye and luckily it hasnt spead to op eye !
thank you for all your emails etc!
ANNE- i have given out those flyers to d&a and surgerys in town etc all very willing to put flyers up and all wanting to know wot keratoconus was !
thank you all
sarah x

[Simon Wright]

Hi, I have a terrible dilemma. I have an appointment at Moorfields to have a deep lamerral keratoplasty (DLK) which is a partial thcikness graft next Wednesday. But it is my final year at University, and with deadlines and dissertation I do not want to risk upheaval with the op, so am considering making do with poorer sight until the summer. Has anyone ever had a DLK whilst in their final year at Uni (or similar busy time ?).
Merry xmas to everyone

[Sue Ingram]

Hi Simon, Sorry to hear about your dilemma; I am not sure how much aftercare is required after DLK compared with having the full graft, however, I should imagine it is not that much different, which probably means it takes quite a long time before you can wear a lens in that eye again which may not be a good idea with all your studying. But then again, how are you coping at present; would you be able to finish uni with poor vision? You might have to weigh up the two situations before deciding whether or not to go ahead next week.

What's the reason for you having a DLK? Is it because you cannot wear corneal lenses any more? Just a thought (and I am sure you have been through all the options as you attend MEH) but have you tried scleral lenses? This might be an option for you, even if its only to get you through your last year at uni. Then maybe you can put off the DLK until a later date. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Take care. SUE

[Dhiren Nakrani]

Hi everyone, its been a while! I saw the recent discussion on driving, i have just recently had a lecture on it and can tell u the current requirements for applying for a driving license:

'All applicants shall have a binocular Visual acuity of 6/12(usually forth line from bottom) & may be required to demonstrate a binocular visual fields of 120 degrees'

Your optician can do a drivers test to check your visual fields, he can only advise you what to do and ultimately it is up to you whether you wish to carry on driving. It is also up to the individual concerned to notify the DVLA if you do not meet the requirements.

I hope this helps, its probably best to get checked by the optom and go from there!

Dhiren!
P.s. My dissertation is about studying how the lifestyle of a KC patients differs to that of a contact lens wearer, exciting stuff!

*DEE-LITE*


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[Dhiren]

Ohh me again, i forgot to add the next part of regulations!

Sec 6.2 Applicants for driving License who have a functional loss of vision in one eye must have a visual acuity of 6/10 (not normally on the chart a bit better then 6/12) & a normal field of view!

Dhiren!

[harpomatrix@yahoo.co.uk]

Hi everyone

Thanks for everyone who replied and/or sent me an e-mail regarding my question on driving. I will tell you what happened regarding my lesson.

I went ahead with the decision to have my lesson on Monday. I decided that if my driving was affected by my vision then I would stop the lsssons.

However in my mind I did not think that the acute hydrops would make things significantly different. This is because before the hydrops in my right eye, I hardly had much vision in the right eye. I was able to drive as long as I have my contact lens on in my left eye which I always do.

I have seemed to adjust to having vision in one eye since I first had the hydrops in my right eye a couple of weeks ago. Before I could see a blur with both eyes open but I don't know if brain has got used to ignoring the vision in the right eye as I am relying on my left eye.

In terms of my lesson it felt no different to how it was in my last lesson before the hydrops. I was using my left eye as i ad previously done in previous lessons. I will keep monitoring the vision and see if it is affected though.

The other issue i have is getting used to the contact lens in my left eye. I've had the lens for a while now but still find it hard to wear. My eye waters but I'm willing to keep going with it. It doesn't bother me too much apart from when I look left or right. As in my driving lessons when my eye moves to look at my side mirrors my eye feels a little uncomfortable and waters. I wondered if this happens to any other lens wearers. I'm ok looking down or straught.

I also wondered if eye sensitivity had anything to do with keratoconus. I think my eyes are sensitive to light.

The sun decided to come out and I did not have my sun glasses. It made my a eyes a little uncomfortable at times.

What I would do for two normal eyes!!

[rosemary@umbilical.demon.]

Ian said:
'Noticed that the US based kcenter are looking to start up in
Europe - can we as a group offer our support as the more focus
KC gets the better and a global effort has to be the best?

What is "the US based kcenter"??

Is this a commercial venture, or a self-help group like ours, or what?

Why is a US-based organisation moving over the UK anyway?

I'd be in favour of encouraging research, or of building links
with self-help groups in other countries, but I certainly
wouldn't see it as the business of the group tobe supporting any commercial venture.

Just my twopenn'orth.

Rosemary
--
Rosemary F. Johnson

[ali cooper]

Hi Harpo,

I recently requested advice from the DVLA as I too was learning to drive. They sent me a form to fill in and asked me to get my optician to fill in my visual fields. I just got them to fill it on my next appointment. I then got a letter back saying they were happy for me to carry on but if I got to the stage I couldn't read the number plate then I would have to let them know. They also said that the letter should be kept as it would back any insurance claim.

hope this helps,

Ally






>From: QT - John Smith <qtopic+6-A46Jzt4sJAXLTWnJNHsx@quicktopic.com>
>Reply-To: QT topic <qtopic+6-A46Jzt4sJAXLTWnJNHsx@quicktopic.com>
>To: alicooperuk@hotmail.com
>Subject: Keratoconus
>Date: 9 Dec 2002 09:52:30 -0000
>


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[Ian]

Rosemary,

[ I'll put the link below which I know has upset some in the past but I think it is necessary for this posting. ]

Kcenter (http://www.kcenter.org) seem to be trying to provide a wider awareness as far as I can see by setting up a Europe based website - they may well be commercially minded in doing so but if it speeds Keratoconus research I see little harm.

Oxfam and pretty much every other major charity could be classed as a commercial venture and this group doesn't have to endorse/advertise their site but could perhaps form some sort of alliance or offer some suggestions. The founder has Keratoconus and is an American actor so the group gets some good high profile coverage - would be great if the UK could find the same and work with various contact lens manufacturers, surgeons etc.

I believe we need to work together to get that illusive cure or develop new technologies.

Regards
Ian