Newly diagnosed
Posted: Sat 22 Nov 2014 6:10 pm
Hi guys,
Some fresh meat on the forum - 27 years old. KC was confirmed on Wednesday, even though I was 99% certain in my own mind once my optician suggested it as a possibility. Just wanted to share my story and perhaps pick up some wise words of experience and advice along the way.
It was either late 2009 or early 2010 (age 22) when I first noticed I couldn't see too well out of my left eye. Up to that point I'd considered myself lucky that I'd avoided the need to visit an optician with what I thought was perfect eyesight...
Anyway off I went to the optician complaining of what at the time I could only describe as double vision (I know now this as ghosting, of course) and was essentially dismissed flippantly. I remember well the optician using his index fingers to say "that's one, and that's two, now do you see one or two?". Obviously the second image was faded, and having know knowledge of eye problems up to this point had to accept his professional opinion. I had a glasses prescribed for reading/computer work even though they only slightly improved the clarity in my left eye and were essentially useless overall because my right eye was doing all the work.
I got a second opinion and a slightly different prescription, and this optician this time said he probably wouldn't have prescribed glasses for what at the time was thought to be astigmatism. I tried to get a referral through my GP because I knew something wasn't quite right, but he could only go on what the optician had said (astigmatism and myopia not worthy of a hospital referral.)
So I left things until this summer, which was when I started to see slight ghosting in my right eye and, worried this one might go the way of my pretty poor left (can't make out much with it unaided) made another appointment with the second optician. He suspected KC, referred me to the hospital and after three appointments (one eye test, one slit lamp exam where he couldn't find obvious signs, and finally a topography) it was diagnosed. In both eyes, though very mild in the right. The consultant said she would probably be able to get my left eye vision as good as my right with lenses, but has instead referred me to East Grinstead for potential CXL.
Sorry this is so long, but it's good to have a place I can discuss this weird condition with others who have it. Anyone with a similar experience out there? My big concern is keeping my right eye as good as it is, in which case this disease shouldn't cause me too much stress, but if it worsens then I'm very worried!
I could go on but I'll end it there - thanks for having me!
Matt
Some fresh meat on the forum - 27 years old. KC was confirmed on Wednesday, even though I was 99% certain in my own mind once my optician suggested it as a possibility. Just wanted to share my story and perhaps pick up some wise words of experience and advice along the way.
It was either late 2009 or early 2010 (age 22) when I first noticed I couldn't see too well out of my left eye. Up to that point I'd considered myself lucky that I'd avoided the need to visit an optician with what I thought was perfect eyesight...
Anyway off I went to the optician complaining of what at the time I could only describe as double vision (I know now this as ghosting, of course) and was essentially dismissed flippantly. I remember well the optician using his index fingers to say "that's one, and that's two, now do you see one or two?". Obviously the second image was faded, and having know knowledge of eye problems up to this point had to accept his professional opinion. I had a glasses prescribed for reading/computer work even though they only slightly improved the clarity in my left eye and were essentially useless overall because my right eye was doing all the work.
I got a second opinion and a slightly different prescription, and this optician this time said he probably wouldn't have prescribed glasses for what at the time was thought to be astigmatism. I tried to get a referral through my GP because I knew something wasn't quite right, but he could only go on what the optician had said (astigmatism and myopia not worthy of a hospital referral.)
So I left things until this summer, which was when I started to see slight ghosting in my right eye and, worried this one might go the way of my pretty poor left (can't make out much with it unaided) made another appointment with the second optician. He suspected KC, referred me to the hospital and after three appointments (one eye test, one slit lamp exam where he couldn't find obvious signs, and finally a topography) it was diagnosed. In both eyes, though very mild in the right. The consultant said she would probably be able to get my left eye vision as good as my right with lenses, but has instead referred me to East Grinstead for potential CXL.
Sorry this is so long, but it's good to have a place I can discuss this weird condition with others who have it. Anyone with a similar experience out there? My big concern is keeping my right eye as good as it is, in which case this disease shouldn't cause me too much stress, but if it worsens then I'm very worried!
I could go on but I'll end it there - thanks for having me!
Matt
