UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi, my name is Dave and despite having had KC in both eyes for over 20 years have only recently come across this site and cant beileve what i have been missing out on. I have progressed through glasses, soft lenses and hard lenses until they have reached a stage where my vision can no longer be corrected with lenses (despite it seems being a part of the fixture and fittings of the contact lens clinic). Four weeks ago i had an Intac implant fitted in my right eye (the worst of the two).

I was wondering how succesful others had found the implants to be and how long it is likely to be before i can be fitted with a contact lens in that eye. I have heard various times from a couple of weeks to four or five months. At present i am finding things quite a struggle with uncorrected vision in one eye and poor sight in the other - this causes double vision and blurred vision, which is not helpful when you work on a PC all day. Obviously driving is out of the question but my employer has been very supportive fixing me up with home working etc.

Just hoping that things will be better and just need to be patient.

The plan is that once my right eye is healed thety will then do the same with my left eye and hopefully it may delay the need for transplants. Grateful for any advice.

Cheers

Dave

Dave

I just wanted to say 'welcome to the forum', and I hope someone who can answer your question will be along in a moment ...

Andrew

HI Dave,

Like you I have been diagnosed for some years - think about 12 and didnt know, nor was never told much about my condition until 2 years ago when I came across this website and realised what I have been missing out on....its worth its wait in gold!

My right eye is the worst, struggled on with hard contact lenses until 2 years ago when they told me at my local hos that the only option was surgery.At this point I was really scared as I was under the impression that surgery was a graft. I soon learned that there are other procedures out there now and was transferred to a regional specialist for Intacs.

I had intacts in the right eye March 2008. I was sore for a few days after then I was fine. Over the next 3/4 months I saw a small improvement to my vision and an increase in the halos and no real change to night vision. My consultant decided that I was one of the few patients that was not going to get a good result and advised me to have a graft. I was just about to have my graft march 2009 when we noticed a decent improvement in my vision,. However a month on and my vision has deteriorated again back to the level it was before intacs. We have now decided to remove the upper intac as it seems from my topographys that the cornea has been flattened too much in some areas. Removing the intacs should sort this out.
I live in hope that it does!

So in terms of how long it takes I like you heard anything from a few weeks to 6 months. I seem to be different. I believe from all the reading that I have done they tend to say what vision you have in 6 months is the best intacs is going to give you. However i think we all have to remember that intacs is still a fairly new procedure and the surgeons are learning all the time as to the different results it gaves different patients.

With regards to working on a pc all day. You may find it useful to get intouch with your local Action For Blind People and the Access to Work team. These are organisations who can assess you and your working environment and recommend adjustments to make your work easier on your eyes. The adjustments can range from improving lighting to magnifying tools and even magnifying software. It does mean your employer will need to contribute of 20%. It sounds like you have a really supportive employer ( i didnt). Action for the blind were really helpful and continue to be so.

Anymore questions just ask!

bye for now

ali

I wish you all the luck with yours.