Intacs, Ferrara Rings, Glasses or Other?

[DSEyers]

Hi,
I have Keratoconus and wear glasses. I only strictly need glasses for driving, but find using them realy helps with PC work.

I am pondering on whether to have Intacs or Ferrara Rings or simply staying with glasses. I think my eye's are around 44 and 46-49 cone wise. My eyes have been relatively stable for the last 4 years and I have now turned 31. I know one eye I can not read car number plates well without glasses.

What would you recommend? I saw a surgeon in UK and had lots of tests done, but the consultant I saw at the end was not very helpful and think did not want to be at work that day!

He simply said placing one ring in the eye would be sufficent as they would do one eye at a time, but on the question is it worth having done, he would not answer so a little confused whether to have something done.

So is it worth it?

Thanks,

Regards,
Darren

[Lynn White]

This is a bit like asking how long is a bit of string!

There are so many factors here that are unknown that it is impossible to say whether it is worth it for YOU!

For a start, you don't say how well you see with glasses. If they bring you up to more or less normal vision - then yu are really in the same position as "normal" peope who wear glasses - just put them on when you need them. If you are not progressing then spectacles are the best way to go as they will absolutely NOT harm your eyes.

ANY other procedure be it contacts or rings or whatever all have the potential to do harm as well as good.

If you are progressing then the balance is the other way, contacts or rings or intacs all help to reduce progression so the pros outway the cons.

Your surgeon avoided a direct answer because there isn't one - in the end you have to balance the pros can cons yourslef . Best thing is get more information about your eyes if you can.

Hope this helps

lynn

[DSEyers]

Thanks for info.

I have found out my Keratoconus reading are:
Right Eye: 43.75
Left Eye: 48.00

Anyone thought/had surgery with Kerratoconus aroung these readings?

Realy tempted to have Intacs done on worse eye (one ring) as hopefuly will improve vision detail, but may also become a littel short sighted if have it done.

Thanks,

[Lynn White]

That still does not help actually!!! Those readings are your corneal shape, not your prescription and your vision/visual acuities.

It does not matter what your readings are, the decision for types of surgery are based on how you manage with/without glasses and or contacts.

It does seem to me you want the surgery so you don't have to wear glasses - but correct me if I am wrong!

If I am right, then this is a bad reason to go for any kind of surgery with KC - if you are stable, not progressing and get acceptable (to you ) vision in glasses, then to risk something going wrong with surgery (and there is ALWAYS a risk with surgery - any surgery) is not a good bet.

Lynn

[Susan Mason]

You wrote:-

Hi,
I have Keratoconus and wear glasses. I only strictly need glasses for driving, but find using them realy helps with PC work

This must be heaven, although I am sure it does not seem like that to you and I appreciate that we each have our own difficulties which are all very real for each and every one of us.

For me it's sclerals and wearing time of late has not been great. This has been added to by depression for several reasons, it is hell not to be able to help your child with his reading book or homework or even see the telly or read a tinned food label for that matter. Most things have to be planned to a routine as wearing time does not cover all of the day, at best it was 10 hours this has now reduced and so things are more difficult.

This probably all sounds very glum however, you have to try to get on with life.

If it was me and not so long ago (May 2002 to be precise) I was still managing ok with glasses for driving and everyday use, I would stick to the specs for as long as you can. Get yourself a jazzy pair of specs or if your prescription is stable a couple of pairs to swap between.
For me to go back to glasses right now would be heaven.
Surgery is looking a more likely possibility for me as time goes on however, I worry how much worse I could be if things didn't go well. I would stick with Lynn's advice and not take any unnecessary risks.

best wishes
Susan

[DSEyers]

Thanks for the replies.

I know I am lucky my Keratoconus has been stabile for a while. I moan, but essentially I am an optimist therefore the chance of better sight and the possibility of slowing down/stopping progression of this disease makes it very tempting to have the op on the worse eye.

I am told if it goes wrong INTACS can be removed and my eyes should return back to normal/previous state. If things went considerably wrong then a cornea graft would be needed. Worse case scenario it all goes wrong a graft would be needed, but even then still have my good eye!

Reading the last post it was shocking how quickly another persons eyes are deteriating. You have my deepest symphothy. I would suggest checking out the "Centre for Sight" web site. The operations happen in East Grinstead London with consultation there or another place in London and you can speed up things by going private. It costs around £2700 an eye, plus initial consultation/check-up fee of £140.

I had tests done there and consultation which took around 2-3 hours which was good. The impression I had was if my eyes were worse then INTACS would be a good choice. If my eyes got too bad then INTACS can not be used, but your eyes have to be very bad for the latter. In my case the 10-15 minute op should improve my clarity/vision detail, but may become sliglty shorter sighted, but as eyes not super bad should improve things, but then because of surgery a little scary,l but what could go wrong now a days? At least its not the early 20s.

I am leaning on having the op done either in the UK or US at the Wang Institute as the person has done more ops. So if I wait things may deteriorate and having the op done later the results would probably be worse as eyes would be drooping more.

Best of luck to all and thanks for your input,
Darren

[Susan Mason]

Darren

Good luck and hope all goes well for you.

I am back to see my consultant next week and maybe intacs will be mentioned who knows. Things just seem to have progressed petty quickly with me not sure whether pregnancy and childbirth speeded things along, before the birth of my son 8 years ago my eyes were ok.

Anyway best of luck and let us know how it goes.