UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Further to my other question- I am with Moorfields having sclerals fitted- having moved down from Yorkshire a few years ago. Do people with ongoing issues with Keratoconus have an assigned specialist or optician that they go and see regularly- how does it work? I have done it all the wrong way round and am being fitted with sclerals by Ken Pullum but no one is monitoring the progression of my keratoconus or doing regular topographies etc- What does everyone else do??? Please help- I am lost

Esther

Hi Esther
If you're seeing Ken then never fear - he'll certainly be monitoring the progression (if any) of your KC. When you were assigned to Ken, you will also have been assigned to one of the consultants (the name might be on your appt card - if it isn't, ask who your consultant is next time you go). But the way things work at Moorfields is that we're usually seen by an optometrist who will then refer on to one of the medics if the need arises. Knowing Ken, I'm sure he'll be doing his utmost to give you vision out of the grafted eye. But if, as you say on your other thread, you want to talk about other options for that eye, then Ken can pass you on to the consultant. We do have some members who've had a successful regraft and also one or two who have had other procedures to improve the outcome of an existing graft.
Good luck
Anne

Esther, did you not see someone from the "medical" side the very first time you went to Moorfields?
Possibly someone who took a very quick look at you and passed you straight on to Ken?
Or did you have someone who came wandering round looking over the partitions seeing how everyone was getting on? - there are many people who pop their heads into Ken's cubicle; one of them on your first appointment may have been your consultant.
(There seem to be 2 types of consultant - those who call in some of their patients themselves and "see" them in the normal way, while their team do likewise and only call in "the boss" if there is a problem; and some who will get all their team to do the calling in and seeing people, and will wander round and drop by and see how each is getting on. SOmetimes they may put in note on your file they want to see you, and the person who calls you in will do the preliminary assessment and peering down slit lamps and then give the consultant a "ready when you are" wave down the corridor..... I think.
The very first person who called you in may have been your consultant - if they looked your eyes, saw nothing of immediate medical concern and noted you have a need of a contact lens fitting, then passed you straight over to Ken.
Or someone who came to "drop in" during your first appointment.
It is not uncommon for people, once into the "system" to see the contact lens people, and not see the medical people for years so long as nothing is changing too fast or drastically.
I agree with Anne - if you go for a contact lens appointment and something is amiss, they'll pass you back quick enough - or if you have problems you want to tell them about that ring warning bells, or questions outside their remit, etc.
Rosemary