Quicktopic posts: Mar 2003

[Hlooby@aol.com]

Hi Ash
I was told the other day that its quite common in Asians. I live near Bradford and have been told it is quite common around this area. I didn't know about this till the other day when I was visiting the opticians. I still haven't met anyone with KC though no matter how common it is round here!!
Laura

[Karen Bashford]

I am replying to Peter (1494) about headaches. I always get a build up of headaches when my lens doesn't fit properly any more. I have mentioned this to various people at the clinics but I get the impression that they don't believe me. It's too much of a coincidence. I do get good service at the clinics though.

[Helen Royston]

Thanks John for your reply. I have just been on the web site for the sclerals, my god they look frightening, but then I think back to putting in the RGP lenses for the first time, the thought of putting some lenses in that sit underneath the eyelids tho is a bit off putting, I hope I can always manage on these sort of lenses, how do you put those sclerals in, just out of interest.

[Louise Pembroke]

Hi Ash, I'm the grande age of 38! Deterioration varies, some people can go for years with glasses or lenses and never need grafting, it's just one of those things. Hydrops can sometimes cause scarring to the cornea which can impair vision further depending on the severity of it, so the prescription can change after a hydrops. I'm struggling to remember when or if wore lenses after the hydrops, but certainly after surgery the vast majority of us still need lenses. It's a fair few months after surgery before you can wear lenses again. As for actual surgery itself, my experience of it was that it was the easiest thing out of everything I've been through. There was little discomfort, you're not in hospital for long but you do need some decent sunglasses to wear afterwards, so if you do have it done, make sure you get some really cool glasses! You have to put eyedrops in every day for a few months and be seen in clinic regularly for check-ups. Do you go to Moorfields?

[gemstone@umbilical.demon.]

Helen wrote:
I have just ben reading some of the messages put on this site
and wondered if you could help on some things,

Will try!

what are scleral

Big contact lenses - about the diameter of a 2p piece, though
curved, of course, not flat. They fit right across the white
(sclerotic) part of the eyeball, under the eyelids. Some people find them more comfortable, and can go swimming, jogging,
horse-riding, etc in them without them falling out. But some
people find they can't get such good vision with them as with
the smaller (corneal) lenses, and most people have the
proverbial "pink fit" when they first see the size of a scleral
lens and think of having to get it into their eye!

and RGP lenses,

RGP stands for "rigid gas permeable" and is the type of plastic
out of which (many? most?) hard contact lenses are made now.
Before it was developed - what, about 10 years ago? - hard
contact lenses were made of a type of plastic known in "the
trade" as "PMMA" - I forget what this stands for; "Perspex" is
one brand name for this type of plastic - and before that, the
early contact lenses were made of glass (so you didn't have to
get yourself into a punch-up in a pub on Friday night!)

Hope that answers your questions.

Rosemary
--
Rosemary F. Johnson

[gemstone@umbilical.demon.]

Louise is having problems getting a new - very large, soft -
lens in:

Oh gosh! I remember that. When I first got my lenses (sclerals - I've never worn the small ones) I couldn't get them in at all, and the guy fitting them had to teach my mum to put them in and
take them out for me.

I didn't know how I'd ever get them in myself!! - but I
eventually managed it when my mum was in the bath and Dr Who was starting in 10 minutes. Which probably shows how old I was at
the time, or something! Now, I have no problems getting them
in, but it generally takes me lots of goes to get new ones out
again. So there is hope for you - and at least you can get
yours out, which is great.

I wonder if you have the same problem I had? - I used to get
myself all organised and into the right position and think
allwas well so far, and then my eye would suddenly see this huge great THING approaching it far too close and panic!! And blink, and duck, and seize up..... Is that what happens to you too?

What I found I had to do was to concentrate madly on looking
fixedly at something I could see out of the *other* eye so my
"vision" part of the brain was fully occupied thinking of that
and too busy to think of seeing the lens being put in. If you
see what I mean. Dunno if this is any help for you, but it
worked (eventually!) for me.

Rosemary

--
Rosemary F. Johnson

[Ian]

Polarised Sunglasses

All - if you suffer in the mornings or generally with light sensitivity then you may find wearing a pair of polarised sunglasses help take away the glare... I have had two decent pairs so far - one bought in the States for about £60 (B&L Suncloud) and another in Australia for £25 (Fish). Both pairs are showing their age infact the fish ones have broken up so I thought I'd go to http://www.google.com and do a search - I found this place and ordered a pair for just under £20. Not sure what they are going to be like...

http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/acatalo ... es_28.html

I know this is a fishing shop and I know some people are against fishing but this is a possible solution to a common KC problem. Try and get wraparounds as they stop the dust too.

Enjoy.

[lawrence]

Im curious if anyone heard of an eye tuck for keratonocus. My specific condition effects the bottom part of my eyes. My doctor stated that I am not a candidate for contacts. thanks

[Rob Armstrong]

Re: sunglasses.

Just wondering, do they have to be polarised to be of benefit? No doubt like the majority of people here, I'm fully aware of the curse of the low winter sun, especially following my recent (10 weeks ago) graft. But I found regular sunglasses to be fine. I had to wear them constantly for a few weeks after the op, but now only need them on very bright days.

On another point, Rosemary described her early experiences of inserting a lens ... "this huge great THING approaching...far too close and panic!! And blink, and duck, and seize up"
I remember experiences like this when I first got my RGP lenses (stuck my lens to my closed eyelid many times!) But lately, I've noticed that my eyes seem to have lost their natural "flinch" reaction. You could argue that as my eyesight got worse, I was less able to spot and react to objects approaching my face. I have especially noticed it recently because I have to take steroid eye drops several times a day following my op. I see the bottle approaching and don't even blink anymore. Anyone else noticed this?

Finally, John Smith, did you get my email with the graft photos attached OK? If you plan to use them for your website I'd be interested to take a look.

Hope everyone is OK

Rob.

[Ash]

hi Louise, thanx for dat info!! it would be a great help if you could think back and remember if you wore a lens after a hydrop because i am quite eager to put my lens back in after this hydrop clears up. i am from scotland and i attend Gartnavel Hospital, part of Glasgow University. my eye specialist is Proffessor Kirkness but he is retiring soon!! ive been told he is one of the best in britan!! so i dont know who is going to do my graft!! (quite worried!!)

Another question, how did ur hydrop occur?? which eye did u get it in first? and how long before it happened to your other eye!! im quite worried about this because i feel that its just a matter of time before i get in the other eye, and i feel like im just waiting for the inevitable!!!

Thanx Ash

p.s. also u have had grafts in both eyes, did u suffer any rejection and is your sight better now??