UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello All,
My original message was lost so here it is again. I am fairly new to the group so I thought I would tell my story so far. For some time I have noticed some blurring of my distance vision. I went to an opticians in Crawley in May 06 and was told that my prescription had changed slightly and I bought a new pair of glasses.These didn't appear to make a great deal of difference but I persevered until the following October when I had my eyes checked again. This time the tester was different and told me I had a shadow or what appeared to be a tear at the back of the eye.

He did not refer me to a consultant but said in some time in the future I may have to have a cataract operation.

I went for a second opinion where an optometrist examined my eyes with a retinopathy camera and her test equipment. She could find no evidence of a tear but her examination revealed the forming of cataracts and to cap it all, a mild form of KC. as a result I have given up driving as I am having difficulty reading a number plate at the prescribed distance and objects seem blurry.

She has referred me to a consultant, Miss O' Sullivan who I understand is excellent.

Just wondered if anyone has any comments about what happens next, the cataract op itself or anything that may help me as I am finding the situation rather stressful at present.

Best wishes to all,

Stephen Osborn

Hi Stephen,

The cataract op might be aways off, first they will see how much of the blurring is down to KC.

You will initially feel you are going over old ground by having a full eye test but this is just to make sure they are seeing in your eyes what the last optom did and if not what may have changed. Usually not a lot has changed if anything.

You will also have a topography scan done of the cornea, basically staring at a light and keep your eye wide open and as still as possible. The you will see the ophtalmologist (surgeon bod) who will have a further look and will then tell you the options.

If possible take a friend to make notes for you as there will be loads informatio coming your way, you will also be given dilating eye drops to take sunglasses. The friend helps here too as the world will be more blury than usual so they can make sure you get home OK.

The hospital will then arrange for another visit depending on the treatment option they recomend. If the KC is very mild, the hospital will sort you with stronger glasses, if the KC is a tad more advanced they will arrange for a contact lens fitting. There are loads of lens options for us and because lens fitting for KC is not always straight forward it may take a couple of fittings to get it right. this is quite normal but frustrating.

The whole process is tedeous and time consuming but not really that bad.

All the best.

Gareth

Hi Stephen
Welcome to the forum - you will find us all a friendly bunch (I hope!) and everyone is very helpful. I am sure I won't be the only one replying to you! (I now see Gareth has beaten me to it!)
You sound as if you may be in a similar situation to where I was last year. You don't say how old you are (don't worry - you don't have to either!) but if you are still fairly young it may well be that it is the KC causing your blurry vision rather than your cataracts. This was certainly the case for me. I had a cataract op, which, as it turns out, was definitely not what was causing my eyesight problems so I had the cataract op very prematurely. Subsequent to the op, as it didn't cure my problems (it actually made them worse!) I was referred on to Moorfields who eventually diagnosed KC.

I am told I also have a cataract in my other eye, but my blurred vision and ghosting - which is caused by the KC, not the cataract - is managed with contact lenses, and the cataract is not causing me any real visions problems. Cataracts usually have to be reasonably well advanced before they have a major effect.

Whre does Miss O'Sullivan work - is she a Hospital consultant? If so I am sure you will be in good hands. There is nothing to fear from the cataract op itself, if you do have to have it. Several of us on the forum have had this op in the last few months. It's a slightly strange procedure as you are wide awake throughout but it doesn't hurt and the recovery is quick. I'd have absolutely no hesitation in having the other one done - if I felt it necessary (which I don't at the moment)

Hopefully, you will be able to drive again soon, although you are very wise to stop if you don't feel able to see properly. But contact lenses, even special soft ones may help you enough to drive. And if not, you will have to try RGP's (gas permeable hard lenses) - many people very successfully get used to those and will enable you to see clearly again. Don't be put off by my blog about RGP's if you come across it - I can't tolerate them but many many people can.

Is your condition affecting you at work at all? I'll PM you about this...

But ask anything you like on this forum - you will be amazed at how much help and support you can get if you want it! And there's no such thing as a stupid question!!

hello Stephen

I had a graft and a couple of years later I had a cataract operation. the cumulative result of these interventions is that I now have very good eyesight in that eye, while the sight in the eye that has only had a graft continues to improve.

Every good wish

Andrew