UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

As posted previously my vision and comfort has deteriorated over the last 6 weeks or so (1 year post graft) and is really starting to get me down. I'm hoping to have the stitch out early next year, as the cornea is too flat, which will hopefully improve things. It has just dawned on me that the discomfort issue is probably due to the fact that I'm working in glaring artificial lights now, without any diffusers.I've made a couple of calls at work today to try to get this sorted.
I know this won't have caused my vision to get worse and wonder if I could do with this stitch out sooner rather than later. My consultant is on holiday at the moment, I did go to casualty a couple of weeks ago but they just advised me to up the drops for a few weeks. I really cannot see me in the same job, or much of a job at all, if things don't improve. It's just survival most days, commuting, work, eat, housework, bed! Sorry to be so down about it, but I really hope 2007 brings some improvement.

Val, do you have lenses now?

Val,

When I had an assesment at work I was aksed what sort of light was best and I told them natural light. I was then alowed to find the desk that best suited me near a window which I found took the harshness of the artificial lights away.

Now the nights are drawring in sooner I am back to using sunglasses when it starts to get dark.

There are also many people I work with that have been allowed to have their own lights which mimic daylight because they have Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD anyway) caused by the nights coming earlier. I find these lights too bright and always have to angle them away to something dull to reflect off and then they are not too bad.

I too would be interested to know if you have any form if visual correction in the grafted eye.

Regards

Gareth

No correction as yet, refraction was poor.

Light issue is a tricky one as I supervise three small labs, moving constantly between them!

Val

Is the comfort issue possibly an indication that it is time for sutures to be removed? How is your 'pinhole vision'?

I'm sorry you are having such a bad time. Thinking of you

Andrew

Sorry you're having a rough time. I hope it improves soon.

I undersatnd about the lighting in the labs, that is the worst place for me to go.

I have dark safety glasses from Nothridge Safety, they are called Tornado from Fisher Scientific which I think is now ThermoFisher!

I also have a slightly lighter pair from 3M which are a different style to the tornado but still have a nice fit so light does not come in through the edges of the glasses.

Perhaps these would help.

Val - I do understand how frustrating this time is for you. I had no 'benefit' from my first graft until I could be fitted with a contact lens and in the meantime, the other eye which I was totally dependent on was deteriorating. So that period of waiting until something could be done seemed never ending. But the difference once I did get a lens was phenomenal and I felt I'd got my life back again. So hang on in there, and things will improve! Incidentally, my experience with the graft in the other eye was quite different - I was seeing better post graft within a couple of months. So post graft experience can be hugely variable - just as KC is!
Anne

Thanks for the support guys and gals.

Andrew

My pinhole vision is fab, if I get the pinhole just right. I do feel I need the stitches out but I could be wrong.

I've telephoned my consultant's secretary and explained my symptoms, she says she will pass this on, when he returns to work.You never know he could ask to see me next week, take the stitch (continuous, ouch!) out and I could have 20/20 vision for Xmas. I'm in an optimistic mood today.

Val, keep up with the optimistic mood

I have only recently had my graft and i have no complaints so far, but its very hard to explain to everyone else that there isn't a instant improvement, and i should imagine after a year this is even harder

Hope things turn a corner for you soon.

Anne