UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I am 24 and was diagnosed with KC at 18, I currently wear piggy backs which are great, I have noticed that a lot of you on here drive or are having lessons, I think my vision is good with lens but my optometrist has told me I can't drive and probably never will be able to. This is really annoying because i could use it for my job. I would appreciate other peoples views, and would like to hear from other KC'ers who are banned from driving and those with poor vision who can drive in contacts.
Thank you! Emma

Hi Emma,

Basically to drive you must be able to get 6/12 on the eye chart which equates to being able to see a standard car numberplate at 20.5 meters away (5 car lengths).

Perhaps a differnt type of lens may help with the visual aquiety, the technology is changing all the time to give us better vision so never say never

Even post graft many of us get back to driving. You do have to inform the DVLA and depending on what your optom or the DVLA decide you may or may not get a licence. I know some have had to appeal and subsequently gone to the local test centre for a driving eye test and shown their vision is OK.

Hope this helps.

What are piggyback lenses?

Hi Emma,

I can drive because the vision in my left eye is good enough with a contact lens.

I love the freedom that being able to drive offers. Even living, as I do, in a big city with public transport, being able to drive is liberating and something I know I will find hard to give up if it comes to it.

You have to be guided by the advise of the experts on this though. I really feel this very strongly. It is too big a risk - not just for ourselves but for which every unfortunate individual happens to get in our way.

Even with my lens I have days when I know I cannot drive. This is fustrating and is why I don't drive far (in case I cannot drive home!) and I always try to give my self time to pull over at the side of the road to replace a slipped lens or wait for a photosensitive eye watering incident to pass. I avoid night driving whenever possible because of the halo effect round headlamps and street lights.

I think it is well worth speaking to your optician as if you can manage to reach the legal standard it is a huge benefit - but if you can't then I'm afraid there is no compremise position.

Brigid

Thanks for your advice, it helps to hear about other peoples experiences, now I know what measurement is required will check how far out i am!! Denner, piggy back lens are where you wear two lens in each eye, I wear a very thin soft lens with a hard lens on top. I cannot tolerate hard lens on their own, but the soft lens in between the hard lens and my eye makes a huge difference. They took some getting used to, it was hard going!! But I now have the best vision I have had in years (Even if I'm not up to driving standard!, I think i can see great compared to how I used to see in soft lens!!)

The soft lens is providing a cushion between the hard lens and the cornea to aid comfort.

Hi Emma,
I am not allowed to drive because of KC. I have been really down about it because I have just turned seventeen. All of my mates are all laughing about there first lessons and I think why me? I do get really down about it. Some people tend to rub it in my face about it aswell and keep asking why and it really gets on my nerves!

Jennie X

Jennie,

People who rub KC in your face and the fact you can not drive are not the people i would like to be round.

Lens technology is changing all the time and sometimes the KC too. You may not be able to drive now, but just round the corner may be a new lens design which will allow ou to reach the legal limit for driving and away you go.

My attitude is that f you learn to drive later on in life you end up being a more responsible and better driver.

Jennie,

I'm 17 and started learning how to drive in September- on the day of my brithday! I felt the same way as you are feeling now- I am desparate to drive.

Can I ask what you mean by you are not allowed to drive because of KC? Does your vision not meet the legal requirements for driving?

Gareth, you are probably right that learning later in lifewould make you a more responsible driver, but I feel obligated to defend younger drivers who do not choose to become boy racers! I also read somebody elses comment on this forum once about driving and KC saying that KC sufferers are or can be more careful with their driving because of their visual problems- I agree with this!

Sympathise with you guys as I remember how crucial it was for me to keep up with my peer group and pass my driving test first time. Although looking back on it now it hardly seems relevant.

Whilst its fair to say that people with KC may drive more carefully or change their driving style to accommodate the problems - the bottom line is, that if you really have difficulties seeing what's ahead of you, do you really want to be responsible for those people in your car and around you?

Whilst I'm lucky enough never to have had the issue of driving raised since being diagnosed with KC a few years ago, I am totally aware of my limitations. I try and avoid driving during twilight hours when my vision is at its worst and avoid long night drives as I know my eyes will be 10x worse the next day.

Also Jennie, just wait until your friends have had to pay out for their first speeding/parking ticket (not that I'm wishing it on them!) and then see who's laughing