UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Is there anything I can do to prevent my kids getting KC? I used to rub my eyes as a child and worry when I see my kids doing it, daft really as they're both under 2.
Chad

Interesting you say this.....When my son was born, as part of the tests before release from Hospital...I told the Dr that I had KC....now my son is currently 20 months old....and he actually gets checked for KC at the Baby Clinic...which I did find odd...but its something they check for now if the parent has it......

He had one at 6 months and another at 18 months.....the Optham that does it is from an Essex Hospital who runs hs Optham department.

Kept meaning to post this very thing.....but anyway its something that gets checked...

In terms of what you can do....I guess trying to avoid itching the old eyes can only be good...as thats a commonality amongst KC'ers...or at least a large proportion...

Chad,

From last years AGM we had a presenation ion a genetics study. It showed very few people with KC passed it to the next generation and fewr still to a third.

Chances of your kids having KC is remote as it appears there has to be a coming together of four recessive genes. It is not a simple genetic relationship such as eye colour.

In the 20 years I have had KC things have moved on immensly. Given another 10 - 20 years, there will be in further adavances to benefit us.

Chad

Do not worry too much about your children rubbing their eyes. And try not to make them worry about it either.

If their eye rubbing seems to be more than "normal" (your guess is as good as mine) then ask your doc to check them for 'dry eyes'. My children both exhibited eye rubbing behaviour when they were little. Neither of them has KC.

Andrew

my three children have also been under the optham at the baby clinic and were checked every year. i was never sure how well they had got on because i couldn't see the pictures myself!
i now take all 3 of them to the opticians every year and they have a full eye check. thinking about it my opticians must dread me coming in, me with my KC and 3 kids for eye test must be their worst nightmare

My eldest daughter who will be 9 in Feb has started to rub her eyes and complain that they feel sore, I have had a little chat with her and told her to try really hard not to rub her eyes and if she tells me when they start to itch i can try to calm them down with a wet cloth.
but i do worry when i see them rub their eyes, we have to we are parents

Anne

If your children have dry itchy eyes, why not ask the doc to prescribe some soothing eye drops (artificial tears) that will take away the need to rub?

Gareth uses systane. I use hypermelose. Children get their prescriptions free.

Andrew

Thanks for the advice, I'll see if I can get them checked at the baby clinic. It's reassuring to find out what others are doing and that genetically the odds aren't against my kids.
This forum is great.
thanks again
Chad

.......all for discussing this. My wife is 5 months pregnant and your posts have cleared a few issues up for me. Ta.

Hi Chad,
My son is just over two. I am taking eye rubbing as a sign for a milk bottle and a nap at the moment. That's not because I don't worry about KC or I'm flippant about it. Its more that I know its so easy to worry about. My wife has brittle asthma so if he has to inherit anything I would rather he had the KC!
Seriously though, at that age its very difficult to ascertain the reason for eye-rubbing. My son is capable of telling us his eyes are sore and he has never said that, so I am guessing it is one of the many other reasons that toddlers rub their eyes.
Hope this helps.