UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi everyone. I am new to the forum. I am In my late 50’s and wore glasses from a teenager. Around 10 years ago I had LASIK (laser surgery) privately to correct my eye sight. All was well until around 18 months when I noticed my eyesight deteriorating.

So I went back to the private client and they said I have developed KC because of the previous laser surgery.

I have just paid for CXL and now need to find someone now to advise me about contact lenses.

Is this normal for KC to be a side effect of laser surgery? Any comments welcome.

Hello Jeff and welcome,
I hope it isn't now normal for KC to be a side effect of laser surgery, as clinics now check the thickness of the cornea before doing LASIK and turn away anyone with a thin cornea which would be made thinner by LASIK. But 10 years ago I'm not sure whether the risks had yet been widely recognised and that probably wasn't yet standard practice. So you're certainly not alone in experiencing this side effect. But the CXL should ensure that your KC won't progress any further. Do spectacles no longer correct your vision? For contact lenses, most of us get our lenses through hospital eye clinics, but with the backlog of appointments due to Covid, you'd probably be waiting many months to be seen. Although most High St opticians don't have experience of fitting contact lenses on KC eyes, some do have a special interest in KC. You'll find some of them listed here -
https://www.keratoconus-group.org.uk/in ... ometrists/
It's not a comprehensive list so if there isn't anyone near you on it, try ringing round local opticians to find someone with experience of fitting KC eyes. All the best.

Thank you Anne. Greatly appreciated