UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

hey everyone its been a bit since i posted ive been unwell again and was in hospital.

but i have a question for you all.

i have to wear prescription glasses and i want a pair of sunglasses to ease the problems i have with bright light.


does anyone have any ideas or reccomendations.

thanks a lot hope to see new faces and old ones at the scottish group on saturday.

take it easy

james

James,

Depending on your light sensitivity there is;

Prescription sunglasses

Clip on shades to go over your glasses; used to have the hinged ones and when raised made me look a bit like Johny 5 from the film 'Short Circuit'.

Then there are the light excluders available at a very reasonable price from the RNIB.

Think it might be case of trying a few clip on shades and holding some tints against your normal specs to see which seem to work best for you. Sure the RNIB will let you try their light excluders or perhaps Andrew if he can make the next Scotish meeting will let you try his.

james

I am delighted to see you back and active. GB has just about covered all the options for sunspecs. I wear prescription glasses when I need to see, and the rest of the time I wear a really flash pair of sunglasses I got in the skiing season from Tiso in Buchanan Street

It looks like I am going to have to miss this Saturday's meeting. give them all my best wishes.

Andrew

I have prescription sunglasses. They're nowhere near as lovely as the Oakleys I reluctantly donated to my mum but at least I can see to drive when it's sunny now.

thanks for the help all the sooner the better i get a pair really because the darn light is doing my head in i can hardly go a walk in the shopping centre or that because the light just makesmy eyes water.

oh i love the summer just hope i see this one outside the hospital lol

James,
Welcome back!!
I would suggest asking at the high street (or searching the web) for Category 3 or Category 4 Polarised sunglasses. These will really cut out the light. I found them soothing as soon as they went on. Cat 3 excludes all but 8-18% of the light and Cat 4 let just a fraction of the light through. You are not really meant to use Cat 4 glasses for driving
If you ask for the category you will ensure you are getting lenses which going to help your eyes, rather than a sales chat from the rep. Top-end glasses tend to last longer as they have better frames. Oakley lenses are polarised at molecular level which means they last longer, perform better etc but whether you are prepared to pay the extra price is up to you. The other angle is to look at snow glasses, expedition glasses etc such as Andrew has done because these are designed with glare in mind. I think it is difficult to get a really good pair that will last without parting with a fair amount of cash sadly