Many moons ago - I thought about creating a list of all opticians who would be happy to fit KC patients with contact lenses. This has now become a reality courtesy of this website!
To find the list - click here
and you will see that not only are private practices listed but the hospital clinics that the practitioners also attend.
This is an ongoing project - we hope to get every optician in the country listed here eventually! Each optician will also be automatically added to the professional forum - we hope to be able to create useful discussions amongst professionals there.
Please - if anyone at all has any suggestions as to how this system can be improved ... post here by all means! This is meant for everyones's benefit!
Lynn
Opticians Accepting KC Referrals
Moderators: Anne Klepacz, John Smith, Sweet
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Lynn White
- Optometrist
- Posts: 1398
- Joined: Sat 12 Mar 2005 8:00 pm
- Location: Leighton Buzzard
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Sweet
- Committee
- Posts: 2240
- Joined: Sun 10 Apr 2005 11:22 pm
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
- Location: London / South Wales
I am glad that this list is finally up!! 
Gee a lot of hard work there but it is brilliant i think!!!
I am hoping that it helps friends here and gives optoms a chance to talk about KC in general and also lens fittings. Hopefully this will advertise the group and KC overall!
Thanks Lynn and John for all your hard work!!
Love Sweet (and Thumper!) Hehe X x X
Gee a lot of hard work there but it is brilliant i think!!!
I am hoping that it helps friends here and gives optoms a chance to talk about KC in general and also lens fittings. Hopefully this will advertise the group and KC overall!
Thanks Lynn and John for all your hard work!!
Love Sweet (and Thumper!) Hehe X x X
Sweet X x X
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jayuk
- Ambassador
- Posts: 2148
- Joined: Sun 21 Mar 2004 1:50 pm
- Location: London / Manchester / Cheshire
Glad to see this finally coming together!
In terms of making it better...here is a thought
If someone is going to be going to these opticians, fromt hat list, more than likely its going to be "Private" or "self funded". An indicative pricing field would be an idea...although Im not sure how the Optometrists would feel on putting a firm price....but an indicative price on being seen would be good.
Lens speciality?
Whether they offer Corneal Topography
I guess the list could go on.
It all depends on how transparent and first touch you want to make this list. Is it just to be location and contact name? In which case what is up there is suffice....OR...do you want to go the next stage and be more end to end?....
Maybe a question to answer?
Is part of this project, to send them the UK KC literature and board information?...etc etc
J
In terms of making it better...here is a thought
If someone is going to be going to these opticians, fromt hat list, more than likely its going to be "Private" or "self funded". An indicative pricing field would be an idea...although Im not sure how the Optometrists would feel on putting a firm price....but an indicative price on being seen would be good.
Lens speciality?
Whether they offer Corneal Topography
I guess the list could go on.
It all depends on how transparent and first touch you want to make this list. Is it just to be location and contact name? In which case what is up there is suffice....OR...do you want to go the next stage and be more end to end?....
Maybe a question to answer?
Is part of this project, to send them the UK KC literature and board information?...etc etc
J
KC is about facing the challenges it creates rather than accepting the problems it generates -
(C) Copyright 2005 KP
(C) Copyright 2005 KP
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John Smith
- Moderator
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Thu 08 Jan 2004 12:48 am
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and spectacles
- Location: Sidcup, Kent
Hi Jay,
I can answer some of your questions:
The topgraphy service is on the system - the green box will say if there is a topography machine at the practice.
And yes, all optoms listed will become members of the KC group, and will receive our details. They'll also get access to the "Professionals place" forum, which we hope will encourage them to pop in here, too!
I can answer some of your questions:
The topgraphy service is on the system - the green box will say if there is a topography machine at the practice.
And yes, all optoms listed will become members of the KC group, and will receive our details. They'll also get access to the "Professionals place" forum, which we hope will encourage them to pop in here, too!
John
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Lynn White
- Optometrist
- Posts: 1398
- Joined: Sat 12 Mar 2005 8:00 pm
- Location: Leighton Buzzard
Jay...
The problem with pricing is that it would constantly have to be updated. However, I am looking into possibly indicating whether optoms do fittings using Hospital Eye Service forms, which would make it cheaper. Meanwhile,. if you look at the list so far, several optoms on there are listed both in their private practice and at the hospital where they do clinics.
If we do get a sizeable group using the forums, this sort of question can be debated. In the meanwhile, we are including contact details as much as possible so that prices and so on can be ascertained by direct contact.
Lens speciality is possibly another field we may look at - but to be honest with you, in the first instance, I am just grateful to get practitioners responding and on the list.
An interesting point is that has already arisen is that there are alternative fitting possibilities such as attending the Institute of Optometry or University Eye Clinics which I don't think has been discussed here before.. though I may stand corrected!
You may be surprised that there are not already lists of opticians that specialise in certain fields - but there are none and this list is the first venture of its kind. There has already been some discussion at various levels as to how one would qualify to be on such a list. I decided that for now, the only "qualification" would be a willingness to do KC fittings. I did want to include topography, as although a topography is not necessary to fit KC, this may well be a valid search parameter for people wishing to check the progress of their condtion.
Once we have a good deal more people on the list, I think then we can start having discussions as to what other information may be added to improve functionality. As you will appreciate, such projects develop as they grow in size. Once we have practitioners on the list, it then becomes easier to circulate everyone to ask for further details.
Lynn
The problem with pricing is that it would constantly have to be updated. However, I am looking into possibly indicating whether optoms do fittings using Hospital Eye Service forms, which would make it cheaper. Meanwhile,. if you look at the list so far, several optoms on there are listed both in their private practice and at the hospital where they do clinics.
If we do get a sizeable group using the forums, this sort of question can be debated. In the meanwhile, we are including contact details as much as possible so that prices and so on can be ascertained by direct contact.
Lens speciality is possibly another field we may look at - but to be honest with you, in the first instance, I am just grateful to get practitioners responding and on the list.
An interesting point is that has already arisen is that there are alternative fitting possibilities such as attending the Institute of Optometry or University Eye Clinics which I don't think has been discussed here before.. though I may stand corrected!
You may be surprised that there are not already lists of opticians that specialise in certain fields - but there are none and this list is the first venture of its kind. There has already been some discussion at various levels as to how one would qualify to be on such a list. I decided that for now, the only "qualification" would be a willingness to do KC fittings. I did want to include topography, as although a topography is not necessary to fit KC, this may well be a valid search parameter for people wishing to check the progress of their condtion.
Once we have a good deal more people on the list, I think then we can start having discussions as to what other information may be added to improve functionality. As you will appreciate, such projects develop as they grow in size. Once we have practitioners on the list, it then becomes easier to circulate everyone to ask for further details.
Lynn
-
Sweet
- Committee
- Posts: 2240
- Joined: Sun 10 Apr 2005 11:22 pm
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
- Location: London / South Wales
i think it would be interesting if we contacted some teaching clinics to see if they would like some KC patients for training purposes! LOL!!
I don't think that prices are a good idea, as if you are going privately i think that you already know what you are getting into as in paying for it. Though it would indeed be good to see about those who get hospital eye forms.
If this all took off, next thing you know we would be having surgeons wanting to advertise here for private grafts etc!!!
Hehe ... don't say i didn't warn you!! The money would be good! LOL!!! Though as a charity i DO NOT think it is easily condoned!!
Sweet X x X
I don't think that prices are a good idea, as if you are going privately i think that you already know what you are getting into as in paying for it. Though it would indeed be good to see about those who get hospital eye forms.
If this all took off, next thing you know we would be having surgeons wanting to advertise here for private grafts etc!!!
Hehe ... don't say i didn't warn you!! The money would be good! LOL!!! Though as a charity i DO NOT think it is easily condoned!!
Sweet X x X
Sweet X x X
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Anne Klepacz
- Committee
- Posts: 2294
- Joined: Sat 20 Mar 2004 5:46 pm
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
Opticians accepting KC referrals
Glad to see this list is getting off the ground - it should be a useful resource for anyone looking for a KC friendly optom. I'd just like to clarify the situation re contact lenses and KC for any newly diagnosed forum users in the UK and any forum newbies.
Anyone whose KC cannot be corrected adequately with spectacles ie has a clinical need for contact lenses, is entitled to lenses at the NHS rate (currently around £48 per lens, which covers any changes in prescription or fit for a year) when the lenses are prescribed through the Hospital Eye Service. Some hospitals have their own contact lens department and will supply as well as prescribe the lenses, others give the prescription on an HES form which can then be made up by an optom who is part of the HES scheme but practices in the community.
Some optoms only supply lenses privately.
People with KC in full time education would get their lenses free through the NHS, and people on benefits would also be entitled to additional help. I'm not sure whether this applies if lenses are obtained privately - I'm sure Lynn or one of the other professionals will put me straight on that.
Obviously it's then up to the individual to choose whether to go through the HES for lenses (KC friendly optoms, cheaper, but as Lynn says, sometimes long waits to get the right lens) or whether to find a KC friendly optom in the community who can provide a quicker service but where lenses may be more expensive.
I also wonder whether there's a case for saying that anyone with moderate to severe KC, or who is experiencing rapid changes in vision should be seen regularly at a hospital clinic, regardless of where they get their lenses. I'm sure the professionals will comment on that!
Anne
Anyone whose KC cannot be corrected adequately with spectacles ie has a clinical need for contact lenses, is entitled to lenses at the NHS rate (currently around £48 per lens, which covers any changes in prescription or fit for a year) when the lenses are prescribed through the Hospital Eye Service. Some hospitals have their own contact lens department and will supply as well as prescribe the lenses, others give the prescription on an HES form which can then be made up by an optom who is part of the HES scheme but practices in the community.
Some optoms only supply lenses privately.
People with KC in full time education would get their lenses free through the NHS, and people on benefits would also be entitled to additional help. I'm not sure whether this applies if lenses are obtained privately - I'm sure Lynn or one of the other professionals will put me straight on that.
Obviously it's then up to the individual to choose whether to go through the HES for lenses (KC friendly optoms, cheaper, but as Lynn says, sometimes long waits to get the right lens) or whether to find a KC friendly optom in the community who can provide a quicker service but where lenses may be more expensive.
I also wonder whether there's a case for saying that anyone with moderate to severe KC, or who is experiencing rapid changes in vision should be seen regularly at a hospital clinic, regardless of where they get their lenses. I'm sure the professionals will comment on that!
Anne
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Lynn White
- Optometrist
- Posts: 1398
- Joined: Sat 12 Mar 2005 8:00 pm
- Location: Leighton Buzzard
A lot to comment on here!
A good few years ago, much of the hospital contact lens work was contracted out to private practitioners. who used the HES forms. This was not necessarily a prescription - more a go ahead to fit lenses and the HES would pick up the NHS subsidy. Eventually there was a change in policy in that a lot of the fittings were taken back under the hospital clinics directly. Nowadays, it depends a lot on how your local PCT (Primary Care Trust) deals with things - so a lot of variation throughout the country.
One casualty of this drift back to the hospitals is a drop in the level of skills needed to fit KC in the community. This is compounded by the increased use of disposable contacts and internet shopping etc. Newly qualified opticians do not see enough cases to gain experience unless they actively work in a hospital or a practice that is fitting a lot of KC corneas.
An ideal situation is one where there is communication between a hospital and a community practice. The practice deals with the patients as much as possible and if there are queries such as a rapid change of prescription, then referral back or communication with the patient's specialist should be easily possible. Such schemes have been developed over years with diabetes, cataracts and glaucoma. KC has not had such schemes because it is seen as a rare condition.
However, with the onset of laser surgery and the subsequent screenings beforehand, KC is being picked up earlier and earlier. Many are sub-clinical cases that may well have never been picked up otherwise and which may not necessarily progress. They may well, though, benefit from CL fitting and not necessarily in a hospital department if they are very mild.
This list is aimed to give people choice. It is not recommending anyone - simply saying that these opticians will actually deal with KC. Anne has shown you the range of pricing which can be quite bewiildering! And yes,the majority of opticians will offer you NHS entitlements if you are on benefits.
To me this list is a beginning. We need to know just how many KC patients there are in the UK, how it is dealt with around the country and if there are lessons to be learnt from each other as practitioners. Some of the practitioners on this list may be more experienced than others but all are here to help.
Lynn
A good few years ago, much of the hospital contact lens work was contracted out to private practitioners. who used the HES forms. This was not necessarily a prescription - more a go ahead to fit lenses and the HES would pick up the NHS subsidy. Eventually there was a change in policy in that a lot of the fittings were taken back under the hospital clinics directly. Nowadays, it depends a lot on how your local PCT (Primary Care Trust) deals with things - so a lot of variation throughout the country.
One casualty of this drift back to the hospitals is a drop in the level of skills needed to fit KC in the community. This is compounded by the increased use of disposable contacts and internet shopping etc. Newly qualified opticians do not see enough cases to gain experience unless they actively work in a hospital or a practice that is fitting a lot of KC corneas.
An ideal situation is one where there is communication between a hospital and a community practice. The practice deals with the patients as much as possible and if there are queries such as a rapid change of prescription, then referral back or communication with the patient's specialist should be easily possible. Such schemes have been developed over years with diabetes, cataracts and glaucoma. KC has not had such schemes because it is seen as a rare condition.
However, with the onset of laser surgery and the subsequent screenings beforehand, KC is being picked up earlier and earlier. Many are sub-clinical cases that may well have never been picked up otherwise and which may not necessarily progress. They may well, though, benefit from CL fitting and not necessarily in a hospital department if they are very mild.
This list is aimed to give people choice. It is not recommending anyone - simply saying that these opticians will actually deal with KC. Anne has shown you the range of pricing which can be quite bewiildering! And yes,the majority of opticians will offer you NHS entitlements if you are on benefits.
To me this list is a beginning. We need to know just how many KC patients there are in the UK, how it is dealt with around the country and if there are lessons to be learnt from each other as practitioners. Some of the practitioners on this list may be more experienced than others but all are here to help.
Lynn
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jayuk
- Ambassador
- Posts: 2148
- Joined: Sun 21 Mar 2004 1:50 pm
- Location: London / Manchester / Cheshire
Lynn
What you say here is very interesting..as I read the same, yet Ali didnt necessary find this.....which would indicate that this was regional?....IE.more people having the chance to have Laser Surgery in say London than the wider?....interesting to see thoughts from professionals working in different regions!...funni old game! Game of two Halves!
However, with the onset of laser surgery and the subsequent screenings beforehand, KC is being picked up earlier and earlier. Many are sub-clinical cases that may well have never been picked up otherwise and which may not necessarily progress. They may well, though, benefit from CL fitting and not necessarily in a hospital department if they are very mild.
What you say here is very interesting..as I read the same, yet Ali didnt necessary find this.....which would indicate that this was regional?....IE.more people having the chance to have Laser Surgery in say London than the wider?....interesting to see thoughts from professionals working in different regions!...funni old game! Game of two Halves!
However, with the onset of laser surgery and the subsequent screenings beforehand, KC is being picked up earlier and earlier. Many are sub-clinical cases that may well have never been picked up otherwise and which may not necessarily progress. They may well, though, benefit from CL fitting and not necessarily in a hospital department if they are very mild.
KC is about facing the challenges it creates rather than accepting the problems it generates -
(C) Copyright 2005 KP
(C) Copyright 2005 KP
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