Keratoconus and other eye conditions

[Andrew MacLean]

I have never realized so acutely as this afternoon, how greatly people have to struggle who have KC and other eye conditions.

Our local paper ran a story on my recovered sight after having a graft. All very embarrassing, but a woman phoned me to say that she also had KC, and that in spite of a graft in the early 1990's, her sight had not improved.

I arranged to meet her in Tescos for coffee. She has no computer so I told her that I'd share her story with you all.

She has now been told that she has glaucoma as well as KC, and that there is a cist on her optic nerve. Her glaucoma is treatable, and the cist may need to be drained if a time comes when it would be safe to do so.

In the meantime she gets a lot of aggravation at work because, although she is registered blind, she does not 'look blind'. Her employer treats her as if she was somehow unintelligent, just because she needs big print text to see.

I have put her in touch with the RNIB and she already has an 'advocate' from deaf/blind Scotland.

Just goes to show how much worse things are for some people. she told me that I was the first 'other' person she had met with KC.

Andrew

[brigid downing]

Hi Andrew

Which illustrates, does it not, the value of a site like this and the important work done by those who keep it running.

I think you are very good to have put your self out for this lady (goes with the job a bit I guess - but this was above and beyond) I am glad we still live in a world where people do still walk that extra mile.

Brigid

[jayuk]

dont we get a link to the article on you? hell even scan it it?

[John Smith]

Andrew,

I hope you have given the lady in question Anne's details, so that she can get the newsletters offline?

And yes, I agree with Jay - could you let me have a link, and I'll post it as a feature story!

[Andrew MacLean]

If you must!

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/read ... hp?id=6911

At least they did not add the cheexy photo to the article.

Yes brigid, I agree wholeheartedly about the value of this site in particular and other sites from which we gleen bits of information.

John, yes I did, and I also hope that she will come to the next Scottish Meeting.

Andrew

[Per]

Didn´t know you were a minister, Andrew!

Impressed by your story! To be blind and then regain vision. Must have been fantastic!

[Andrew MacLean]

It's like I was trying to tell the journalist, "corneal" blindless is like trying to look at the world through lace curtains. You can tell it's daylight out there but you can't see where you are going! Being able to see again is wonderful and I am looking forward to having my second eye done so I'll have one to look through and a spare.

Andrew

[Dipesh]

Andrew,

I have agree with Per, you story just goes to show is fantastic. But more importantly the lady who you kindly met does not feel isolated any more.

Dipesh

[jayuk]

totally agree with Dipesh and Per!

Good to see this was taken up!

[GarethB]

Good to see KC being brought more into the general publics domain.

Do not think anty articles I appear in are likely to mention KC. On the otherhand it may give me an advantage if it makes the other cars get out of the way!