Quicktopic posts: Jan 2002

[Andy Barron]

Dear All

What a helpful and frendly place. I have only found you by mistake while searching for a fix for my eyes. I have been suffering from Keratoconus for many years and until now have been getting by with glasses after a very uncomfortable trial with contact lenses. I now face the prospect of losing my driving licence unless I do something soon. I was under the impression that there was laser treatment or reshaping treatment that would help? can anyone enlighten me.

[Ian - Oxfordshire]

Anyone seeing Ken this Friday ?

Hope all are well.

[John Smith]

Andy,

Hi, and welcome to the group.

As far as I'm aware, the laser surgery is NOT suitable for those of us with KC. The corneal reshaping thing is in its infancy, and is undergoing trials in the US. It may or may not be suitable for us.

I'd press on with the contact lenses, changing your optician if necessary. Boots were completely unable to get my contact lenses to be pain-free and decent vision. My new (independant) optician has been excellent, and above all, they've got the patience to try different sorts of lenses until they can get it right.

Alas, I can no longer drive (but following my graft last week I will hopefully be able to again someday) so I can sympathise. My advice: go for it. It's better than the alternative!

Best of luck,

John

[Catherine (Peterborough)]

Andy,
Sorry to hear you're struggling. Don't be too hard on yourself. It took me several years to wear RGP's all day every day and I coped by wearing them for the essential things like driving then swapping to glasses for the rest of the day.

I too found opticians vary - my experience is the opposite to John's - I have a brilliant optician at Boots in Peterborough, who solved many problems I had with badly fitting contact lenses prescribed by D&A!

One of my eyes has now moved on to a scleral lens which is a lot more comfortable and it might be worth discussing this option with your optician.

Be tough with them and move on if you're not getting the treatment or service you deserve - you'll know when you find someone who is good with KC because they'll hardly be able to stop talking about it!!

When you get contact lenses again, try different brands of solution, most people rate Boston very highly but I used to find swapping brands regularly helped with comfort. I also get on much better with the squeegy bottles of saline than the aerosols (they're cheaper too!.

Let us know how you get on ...

[Scott Waters]

I just felt I had to say thank you to everyone who contributes to this group. Although I very rarely have anything to add or say, I take comfort from the experiences of those who do - and I'm grateful for that. I've had KC for many years (and without tempting fate) have had no problems with RGP's and have a great optician at Vision Express (it was he that connected me with this group). Thanks again, there may be others like me who read avidly and contribute infrequently, somewhat selfishly by only 'taking' I suppose - or that's what I think sometimes. It really does help to read about the experience of others. Best wishes to everyone having grafts and things - I just get squeamish thinking about it.

Scott
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[John Smith]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your comments. Don't worry about being squeamish; just because you've got KC doesn't mean that you shouldn't be. I think most people are very squeamish when it comes to operations on eyes.

In fact, I fainted twice - once when told 6 years ago that I needed the op, and again they day after actually having it!

It's all worth it though (so far, anyway).

John

[Dave Hamblett]

just to let every one know i have just been for my 1 month check up after getting my rgp lenses from my local optician and all is going well. My eyes have taken well to the lenes and my vision is great!! Night driving has improved and i now get very few strange flares etc(althought it still happens some times when my eyes are tired) any way thought it would be nice to post some good news, keep up the good work the site helped me alot when i first found out i had KC and still is


>From: Quick Topic daily digest
>To: davehamblett@hotmail.com
>Subject: Keratoconus
>Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2002 22:58:48 -0600 (CST)
>

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[Ian - Oxfordshire]

Dave,

Glad to hear your check-up went well and that night driving vision has improved.

Can you share the details of your lenses as although all our eyes (and severity of KC) are different I am interested in terms of optic zone and manufacturer.

A general question to the group - how many of you use a local optician solely or to supplement eye hospital visits ?

Hope everyone in the group is well and avoiding the various flu bugs!

Many thanks
Ian

[Dave Hamblett]

Ian
Not to sure of the manufacture think it was sauflon or something simular. I went to my local opticians in nuneaton as i would have to wait till april may at the earliest for my first hospital appointment in cov and warwick hospital coventry. Luckily my optician is also the contact lens specialist at this hospital and i will see him there when i finally get an appointment. in the mean time i got my first set private (About £100 all in) while i was waiting. Dave



>From: Quick Topic daily digest
>To: davehamblett@hotmail.com
>Subject: Keratoconus
>Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2002 22:58:51 -0600 (CST)
>

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[John Smith]

Ian,

I use my local optician generally INSTEAD of going to the hospital. Of course, post-graft I'm seeing both - the consultant at the hospital is looking after the graft just done (and preparing for the next one ;-).

The local optician (who also practices at the local eye dept) manages my glasses (for what it's worth) and RGP lenses. In fact, I was referred to this particular optician by the consultant I was seeing at the hospital!

A truly symbiotic relationship.