UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

My consultant wants me to have the collagen cross linking surgery but I have just found out that my insurance company will not cover the treatment because it has not proved to be effective. The consultant said it will cost me around £1600 for one eye, which is quite expensive.

Has anyone had the surgery? Was it worth it? Or should I try something else?

Thanks

Gavin

Gavin

Welcome to the forum. I have not had crosslinking, but many here have and I am sure that one or more of them will be along in a moment. Just wanted to say hello and welcome.

Andrew

Hi Gavin

I have had crosslinking done in my left eye 6 months ago, and i'm due to have the right eye done in 2 weeks.
So far its been successful in halting the KC progression in my left eye. There have even been a slight regression. For me atleat it has been well worth the cost as my KC was advancing quickly enough.

MY health insurance will not cover the procedure here either, so it was paid for from my own pocket. It cost pretty much the same as the price you were quoted. I can howeve claim back 20% of the cost through a Income Tax rebait.

I had crosslinking done in the SE England, it cost me in the region of £1000 for one eye - including initally assessment, procedure, drops, follow up appointments. Like electricheadx i have seen a slight regression in the eye i had it done in and it has done its job in stopping any further progression.

I had crosslinking done in my left eye in May on the NHS at Moorfields St Georges in Tooting, my follow up appointment has been delayed (should have been this morning actually!) so im still none the wiser as to whether it has been a success.

It's been tough only seeing with one eye for the last two months but hopefully it will be worth it!

That really is the worst part, being without one eye for a time.

Thanks for your posts guys.

I had my op last week on my right eye. My insurance company ended up paying for it (the hospital managed to convince them to pay somehow!).

I have a follow up appointment next week but not sure exactly what that's for.

I found the op a bit freaky being awake for the whole thing!

What do you guys mean by "being without an eye"? Are you talking about the cloudy/blurry sight? Or was your eye covered for a while? When did you find that your sight was coming back to your eye?

Thanks again. I really appreciate your posts.

i think it depends on which eye is having cross linking and which eye is the dominant eye - i didnt notice any difference as i dont use the eye that i had CXL done in.

If you are used to seeing from the eye that had CXL done then i suspect you would notice the bluriness/cloudiness etc that follows CXL. However you would also notice any improvement that you get as a result of CXL for the same reason.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens after a month or so!

My consultant also wants me to have the collagen cross linking in my right eye, I have health insurance from AXA and I called them today and they will not cover the treatment because it has "not proved to be effective".

I am not sure if my eye will be suitable or not. The keratoconus has not changed much in the last x years, would I really see much difference?

My consultant says that the shape of the cornea should be better and that a lens should fit better.

Is it too much of a gamble?

Any experiences appreciated