LENS / OPTICIANS COSTS

[pauline collins]

I was diagnosed some 6 or 7 years ago with KC in both eyes, the left being the worst. In 2006 i used the forum to try & find a new opticain as my usual one left.......the replacement then left.......i tried the next chap who to be fair was very good ...he then left at the end of last year.... my vision has deteriorated again so i am now seeing another new optician....very frustrating...when i first spoke to him i asked him what his KC experience and knowledge was...this didn't go down very well, he got all stroppy with me and said that i shouldn't question him as he is a qualified optician...i did tell him i wasn't questioning his qualification just his experience of KC......it wasn't a good start.....lets face it when you see as many specialists as we do you want to ensure the person who is 'treating' you has a good awareness - not just a text book qualification. I left it a few months before arranging to see him...not sure if he remembered me.... as soon as i walked in he thought i was there for a standard lens check..but i soon put him right.....i am now today trialling my second new left lens........to date this has cost me £177.....this was just the opticians cost and doesn't include my time or petrol......i believe i need a new right lens, this will also cost me circa £150...... so £327 later i might be able to see well enough.......does anyone know if we are able to get some form of benefit / funding for KC....i am afraid that i have just taken it for granted that i always have to pay..........
Despite being diagnosed 7 years ago i have always just paid for my lenses. Does anyone know ?

I have located the list of opticians on this website and i am going to try and see Mr Avery at Specsavers in Peterborough as my current contact lens man doesn't fill me with confidence. Has anyone used or know about Mr Avery
Thanks
Pauline

[Andrew MacLean]

Pauline

I see that you are in Peterborough, but I wonder why you are having your lenses for keratoconus dispensed on the high street?

Is it that your local hospital does not have a contact lens clinic? People with Keratoconus usually pay only £52.50 per lens. If your hospital does not have its own contact lens clinic, then they surely have a high street optometrist to whom they refer patients.

Go to your ophthalmologist and ask for a referral to the optometrist that the hospital uses.

Sorry it has taken so long to respond to your enquiry last month, your post was overwhelmed by other strings.

All the best

Andrew

[pauline collins]

Thanks Andrew. I haven't been to the hospital for some years as it has been 'dealt' with through my optician. The last time at the hospital they noted that my lenses were a reasonable fit and to continue with my opticians......i wasn't aware till your note that i could ask to be referred. I think I will get back to my GP and request referral again.......
Previously the consultant at PDH referred me to Moorfields and told me I was discharged from PDH after I questioned her suggestion for a transplant.....she really was very rude, I could have cried after questioning her as her resposne was to ask me what I wanted to do!! I said maybe Moorfields at which point she very rudely discharged me and told me she would refer me........my experiences to date of hospitals and consultants have been sub standard.....hence the fact that when my opticians have moved on I have found myself to be somewhat 'on my own' without an 'optical professional'
Unfortunately I currently appear to be going through rather dramatic changes with my prescriptions...new lenses, new glasses for when my lenses have dried out and become very irritating.......now require reading glasses!!!! That makes me feel old now!!!!

Thanks
Po

[rosemary johnson]

That sounds very "OFF", Pauline - and sorry you've had these experiences.
SOunds like you ought to get a referral to a better consultant.
Did you ever get the referral to Moorfields?
How you find a better-mannered consultant, I don't know! - but best of luck with it. DO keep us posted, won't you?
Rosemary

[pauline collins]

Hi Rosemary, yes I did get the referral to Moorfields, however that also was not the best experience........I saw a consultant who did not introduce himself so I have no idea who he was, he had his registrar with him who had not seen piggy back lenses before (i was trying them as it was suggested by my optician) they looked into my eyes and becasue i complained of dryness they referred me to an optician in the next room who suggested cleaning my lenses several times a day with Miraflow........a year or so later miraflow was removed from the market place....that was my Moorfields experience!!!

Thanks
Po

[Andrew MacLean]

Pauline

I am so sorry that you are having such a bad time with both consultants and optometrists! I have to say that my experience is the exact opposite: I have an excellent consultant who is attentive and leads a team of well trained and generous doctors; I am seen by expert and patient optometrist who keeps going the extra mile for me.

My solution for you would be to move to Glasgow, but that is probably not a practical proposition, so your best bet would be to make as good a job as you can of the ophthalmologist to whom your GP will refer you next.

Do not be alarmed if the ophthalmologist wants to talk about a transplant. Be prepared to ask questions, like "What are your clinical indicators for a graft?" You could re-cast that question as "What makes a graft appropriate at this time?"

Write all your questions down on a notepad. Make sure that you ask all of your questions and that you get answers that you understand. Write the answers down. You can also take someone with you into the consulting room, and that person can write down what is being said.

Ask the consultant about a referral to the hospital contact lens clinic.

All the best: never forget that you are in control of your eyecare.

Andrew

[pauline collins]

Hi Andrew....used to live in Paisley so moving to Glasgow always sounds tempting!!!
Thanks for your response, since seeing the consultant at PDH (Peterborough District Hospital) I have moved to Lincolnshire so hopefully when I ask for the referral I may see someone in Boston as opposed to PDH......will let you know how I get on.

Thanks again

Po

[rosemary johnson]

Sorry to hear about your Moorfields experience......
I wonder if we can indentify your anonymous consultant for you, between us....
Yousaid "he": was he a tall thin one with a deep double-bass voice? - or a very shy, quiet type with silver framed specs and his nose and forehead onthe same slope? - or a short, round-faced balding one with gold-framed specs? - or...?
Don't worry if you can't remember!
Hope you get on better in Boston. I'll second the advice about writing down the questions - and answers.
If all other words fail, one can do a lot owrse than that good old formula: "Errr..... why?"
And remember - not only are they YOUR eyes, but it is YOUR taxes than pay these guys' salaries. SO don't let them get to you.
All the best and do keep us posted.
Rosemary
PS: am surprised someone at MEH shouldn't know about piggy backing - I thought Moorfileds people have been piggybacking for years. I suppose ... registrars come and go....

[Andrew MacLean]

Steady Rosemary.

You know the rules about identifying people on the open forum; I think that has to cover hints and allusions, too.

Andrew

[pauline collins]

Thanks Rosemary......and this time I will write down names.....will let you know how I get on.....

BR
Po