UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi everyone

Not posted anything for a while but have been reading regularly.

This is a query about son Phillip (16). Been to hospital for check up today and have come away feeling very confused. Having previously asked for glasses on numerous occasions and being told that they would be of no use at all having been unsuccessful with contact lenses - saw a different optician today and guess what she decided that he could get decent vision with glasses.

Also saw the consultant as he has very dry eyes. Prescribed eye drops to relieve this. He was very off hand and dismissive about everything. It was him that diagnosed KC in the first place but made us feel that we had made the diagnosis ourselves! If I was that clever then surely I would be doing his job!!

What is confusing me the most though is that I thought KC sufferers had short sight but the prescription that he was given today seems to indicate he is long sighted:

Right Eye Sph. +0.75

Left Eye Sph. +0.50
Cyl. +3.50
Axis 10

Can anyone make any sense of this? And is this particularly bad long sight - can't remember by prescription but in right eye know it is something like +7.00 but I also have astigmatism.

Eileen

Hi eileen

These prescriptions can be confusing. To be honest I have not the first clue what the figures mean. My guess is that your son has a bit of an astigmatism, and that part of the prescription has to do with that, but I am also sure that somebody who actually knows about these things will post a definitive answer.

As to your question about glasses: some KC sufferers manage quite well with glasses, others need lenses, and a very small minority need surgery. It may be that, if your son has not coped with lenses, glasses are a second best refuge.

Many people with KC also have dry eyes. Artificial tears can be used to mittigate this effect, and sometimes there is a surgical option where they put tiny plugs into the ducts that drain the natural tears from the eyes.

All the best

Andrew

Hi Eileen

I have had a graft in each eye and KC returned in the right.

After the graft in my right eye I was left long sighted and that is the one with KC.

The corneal distortion is down to KC and the overall shape of the eyeball in my understanding is the main reason for long or short sightedness.

The left eye post graft has astigmatism and I am long sighted.

In 2004 when my KC started again Iw as told I could not wear glasses, but in March the optician said unless I tried glasses there was no way of knowing for sure. I can get full 6/6 in both eyes. The differnence between contcts and glasses is that if I move my eyes from left to right I get distortion in my periferal vision that has taken a month to get used to. With contacts because they sit over the cornea I get excellent all round vision and no distortion.

To overcome my dry eyes I have cut out all fizzy drinks, most caffeine (only 2 cups decaff per day), no fruit drinks; whole fruit instead and drink at least 2 litres per day. I also use lubricating eye drops called Systane by Alcon which initially I had to use every couple of hours but now use twice per day. This has made my lens wear a lot more comfortable, before changing to this I could not get 2 hours lens wear, now I get a good 12 hours everyday.

Hope this helps.

Gareth