UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Thought I would start a thread of KC tips... suggest we keep replies short and avoid debate so people can scan through quickly and judge for themselves. A few to start with:

Legal note: Use these at your own risk, if in doubt ask a medical professional first.

- Ask for colour-coded RGP lenses - bLue (Left), gRey (Right)

- Buy 360ml of Saline from Sainsbury £1.49 or Tesco £1.48 - Boots charge twice the price!

- Use eye-lid wipes after you take your lenses out

- Replace your old PC monitor with a flat-screen - less heat, less power and easier on the eyes!

- Wear polarised sunglasses - you'll see the difference

- Tell a friend or total stranger about Keratoconus

- Carry a bottle of re-wetting eye drops and a spare case with you everywhere

- Don't go on the sand dunes when its windy!

- Make a note of your lens type and prescription - you might need it on holiday

- Go to an English pub! They are all smoke-free now so are KC safe!

- Buy hand sanitiser and take it with you when out and about

That's all for now. Good night! Please add yours below...

Even better, go to Scottish pub, we've been smoke free for ages!

whiteduck wrote:
- Replace your old PC monitor with a flat-screen - less heat, less power and easier on the eyes!

This works for TV's a well, a good LCD flat screen is so much easier to view and has better colour.

Other than that I recomend hourly breaks if you work at a PC, this will help to keep that headache at bay

Kleenex Ultra soft tissues

Hypromellose eye drops in the fridge for itchy hayfever eyes

Flush out with hypromellose last thing at night

Superdrug 120 ml bottle of saline for handbag/night out

Boots Bausch & Lomb/Boston equivalent travel size cleaner/wetting solutions for handbag/night out

Lancome waterproof mascara & MAC eye pencils/eye shadows

When having a bad lens day, scream/rant/verbally abuse the lens to let off steam!

Then put on 'I am partially sighted' badge if out and without lens, makes asking for help easier

Play frisbee with scleral lenses [sorry Ken]

Bark and eat cake

My top tips are:
1.0 Routine...get into one with your lenses and then you won't forget anything like cleaning etc etc!
2.0 Don't let the little chaps stop you doing anything....beaches, windy days, nothing stops me...although I do get the odd starnge look out and about on windy November days wearing my sunglasses!

Who cares!

1. If your eyes hurt even though you can see fab, consider taking out your lenses especially if vision for tasks tomorrow is more important than tasks today

2. If you're having a dry eye day avoid the supermarket. The cold section of some is deadly and makes your eyes even drier.

3. Discuss KC with friends and work. It makes an interesting talking point and in my experience employers help out once they know.

4. Plug in sink - check, toilet seat down - check, everyone else out of the bathroom - check, dry and clean hands - check, solutions open and ready - check!

5. Write questions down before you see your specialist

6. Have wet eye drops with you at all times.

7. If you have hayfever, even mild, consider buying the more expensive tablets and nasal spray - they are worth it.

8. Use and support this website.

9. Smile. You have KC.

10. Live life to the full. A cliche maybe but dont let it stop you doing anything

For those that use sterile saline to fill their lenses up before insertion, does it really cost c.£40 a month/£480 a year?? I found 1x 12 Amidose Saline 30ml pack costing £10.53 (£2.93 per 100ml) If you have any alternatives I'd love to know what they are. I'm assuming the 'Boots Sterile Saline' for £3.49 (96.9p per 100 ml) being ONE THIRD the price isn't the same or as safe??

Sainsburys large saline bottles are £1.49

Louise, is that preservative free, sterile saline from Sainsburys?

It doesn't say it's preservative free no