Contact lens fitting

[liphook]

Hi All

I am a KC sufferer and have had both eyes grafted over last 10 years, one has been successful the other has not, so at present i only have 1 eye i can use.

My problem is that the contact lens i had for that eye has been broken and the specialist i used to see in the Wrexham area, MR R K Neslon, has moved his practise.

I have visited a local contact lens specialist who has been unable to make a lens that sits comfortably on my cornea, and his suppliers are not able to make the type of lens i need, possibly a torric.

Does anyone know of a good specialist in this area or the Liverpool area that i could visit?

Or does anyone have a contact number for Mr Nelson

many thanks

Kev

[Rob Armstrong]

Hi Kev,

I've attended the contact lens clinic at Walton Hospital (part of Aintree Hospitals) for several years now.

Do you still attend a hospital for post-graft checkups etc? Maybe they could refer you.

Rob.

[John Smith]

Hi Kev,

I think Rob's suggestion is a good one - your NHS hospital should help you as your lens is "medically necessary".

As for Mr. Nelson, he's listed on the General Optical Council web site at www.optical.org as being in Wirral. The GOC may help you to locate his practice; it is possible though that he is no longer practicing, considering he registered with the GOC in 1961!

For others, http://www.nhs.uk is really useful to find an optician by name, but only in England, unfortunately.

[Peter Nolan]

Hi Kev,

I too used to see Mr Nelson years ago when he was based in Liverpool and also when he was based in Birkenhead. I've also lost touch with him, I think he may have retired.

I've since found an optician/contact lens centre in Formby, called Silver and Rose. They have fitted me with new lenses that are the best fit I have had over the last 20 years.

You can call them on 01704 831118 and explain you have KC and ask to speak to Colin.

Good Luck
Pete

[liphook]

I have found out that Mr Nelson does have a private clininic on the Wirral somewhere, but it will cost a lot to see him, its £15 just for an appointment and a lot more for any modifications that need doing.

As regards the hospital, they are pretty useless really, when Mr Nelson left they did bring in a temporary replacement but he left after a few months, since then the hospital have not brought anyone in so i am having to curently persist with a high street specialist.

On the 23rd of August im having corrective surgery on my right eye, after the operation i was left with a an -21 astigmatism, so no corrective eye ware could be made. The surgery im having involves making an incision either side of the cornea and trying to pull it tighter to take away the steepness of the graft.

Has anyone ever had this done or know of anyone who has had it done?

thanks a lot

Kev

[Joanne C]

I was only diagnosed with KC in October my father also has KC and as such wanted me to get my lens fitted by Mr Nelson as well. I have had my lens fitted by him but I am now looking for a new specialist in the area, as Mr Nelson retired this summer. So any other suggestions wuld help both myself and my father. Thank you Joanne

[Janet Manning]

Hi Kev,
Are you sure that further surgery on a grafted eye is the best way forward? I gather this procedure is not always successful. Common sense tells me that it is not a good idea to mess with a graft, which will never be as stable as your original cornea.

I have it on expert authority that Scleral lenses can cope with the degree of astigmatism you mention. Not sure what the figures are for my eyes, but I know that post graft I have quite strong astigmatism in both eyes - opposite directions in each eye I presume as I can see only vertical lines with one eye and horizontal with the other! With scleral lenses this is corrected to an acceptable level, which allows me to work and drive.

Why not try this option before you embark on surgery? You have nothing to lose and can still go for surgery at a later date if you wish. However once you've tried sclerals I'm sure you won't. They are SO much more comfortable than any other sort of lens and they can achieve correction in situations for which other lenses produce poor results. If you are unsure where to get advice on sclerals, please email me on:-
janetmanning@onetel.com
or tel. 01235 528974
I will put you in touch with someone who can help. Please get in touch before you go for the surgery. There is another way. Surgeons mean well and are great at what they do, but in my experience have little or no knowledge of our optometric options and in particular of scleral lenses.
All the best, Janet