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Eye drops

Posted: Sun 22 Jul 2007 6:49 pm
by Mary Harrold
Hi,
I hope i'm doing this right as I've never posted anything on anything before!
I recently went to Moorfields for laser eye surgery, and the consultant said I wasn't eligible as I may have Keratoconus. It was a huge shock as I'd never heard of it - and it had taken 6 years to save for the surgery and I wonder if I had laser surgery earlier it might have worked.
As I was so shocked I never thought to ask any questions but have found this site brilliant - thank you so much.
I would be very grateful if anyone could answer one more question - does anyone know if it is safe to use eye drops if you have Keratoconus? I regularly use moisturising, rewetting and anti allergy drops and didn't know if this could have caused it or could make things worse.

Many Thanks

Mary

Posted: Sun 22 Jul 2007 10:31 pm
by Pat A
Hi Mary
First of all, welcome to the group.
Secondly, I think you need to post this question on the main forum , the "General discussion Forum" as many people only read that one!

Like you, I went to Moorfields because of problems and was then told I had KC which I had never heard of so didn't know what to ask either! It's scary at the time isn't it!

And I'm no expert at all, but using rewetting & moisturising drops won't have caused your KC. Interestingly enough a lot of us who have KC find we need to use those very drops - seems like it's a side effect sometimes of the condition? I for one suffer greatly with "dry eye" so use a lot of drops.

You don't say what problems you have ? Are you short sighted ? Is that why you went for laser surgery? The group is hearing more and more about people who have gone for laser surgery only to be told thay aren't suitable beciase they have mild KC Do you wear contact lenses or glasses?

Keep in touch , and ask anything you want - there is always someone around with answers!

Best Wishes

Posted: Tue 24 Jul 2007 7:05 pm
by Mary Harrold
Thank you so much for your reply Pat - Its brilliant to know other people use eye drops - I hadn't used them since I'd beeen to Moorfields but have started using them again and eyes feel back to normal! I have short sight - 7.5 both eyes - they got really bad in my early teens - so I wonder if I had Keratoconus then and just didn't know.

Thanks again for your reply - I really really appreciate it.

Mary

Posted: Tue 24 Jul 2007 7:52 pm
by Eddie S
Hi Mary,

Welcome to the site!

I agree with Pat on the drops - many of us here use them and I for one couldnt tolerate lenses as much as do if I didnt have drops. In fact at one point my eyes got so dry I was on prescription for drops.

If possible though, try and go for the (typically more expensive, like organic veg!) preservative free drops - they are kinder on your eyes and better for you if taken over a long period of time.

As for the laser surgery, jump up and down and hug yourself and consider yourself really lucky that your specialist spotted it and that you didnt have the surgery - from what my specialist told me a few years back, going ahead with it wouldn't have been nice for you. Eww (I wont tell you what she said exactly!) You're probably right too about having had KC for a few years - many of us have had it since our teens (although like everything to do with KC, there is no 'usual' or 'average')

If you have hayfever (your allergy) a couple of us here at least have had a lot of success with nasal sprays - I tried the allergy drops for the eyes but couldnt get on with them, they made my eyes sting more than helped.

So the big question is now (pretends to be on Who Wants to be a Millionare) what are you going to do with the money you saved for the op!? :D

Welcome again to the site!

Posted: Tue 24 Jul 2007 10:18 pm
by donna
I went short sighted just over a year ago and have had dry eyes for ages, I didnt realise that the fact my eyes were always watering meant they were dry! Last November my eyes got worse and I found out I have KC. My vision is pretty bad -10.5 in my left and changing on a monthly basis in my right. I use Minims fake tears and an allergy eye drop. Plus Eddie's great discovery ....nasal spray :D I dont need eye drops everyday but get them on prescription...I have a nice GP :D

Posted: Wed 25 Jul 2007 9:58 am
by Mary Harrold
Thanks for the advice on Eye drops - I'm off shopping to see if I can find the ones you reccomended.
I do feel really lucky to have seen a consultant who knew about Keratoconus - I had phoned or emailed several laser surgery clinics to ask about my suitability regarding Laser surgery as I had corneal erosions 6 years ago. All but Moorfields said it wouldnt be a problem - which is why I went to Moorfields - and now I am thanking lucky stars I did - the alternative is too horrible to think about.
As for the money I saved - am hanging on to it for three years as consultant said by then there maybe different treatments available - and if not I'm going to blow the lot on a trip to Antartica - my second biggest wish!

Mary

Posted: Wed 25 Jul 2007 11:40 am
by GarethB
Try http://www.postoptics.co.uk for lens stuff or register with Easy Fundraising info

and we get money while you shop for eye care stuff and much more too.

Posted: Thu 26 Jul 2007 10:50 pm
by Asif
you should be glad you didnt have the surgery a few years ago. laser sugery kind of burns layers of the cornea to make it a better spherical refractive surface, so would make the cornea thinner to a degree. Your cornea would be thinner than it would be now so making corneal ectasia worse ie keratoconus.

And yes its safe to use drops with KC. I use them all the time especially artificial tears every half hour at times