Lisa just diagnosed

[leolisa]

Hi all,
I have been struggling for ages with bad eyesight and the rubbish express
opticians on the high street totally missed that I have keratoconus. I was refered
to a specialist optician for a dyslexia test for coloured lenses and he counln't believe
that those other opticians missed it because it was so bad. I knew something was wrong.
Just been to moorfield eye hospital and got diagnosed the other week and then on saturday
I bumped into a pillar in town and knocked myself out which has almost happened a few times before.
Which I know sounds really hilarious but I was really frightened. Thankfully I was witha friend
when it happened and they stayed with me overnight in hospital.
I don't wanna be a drama queen but I really feel like I've lost my confidence and I'm afriad to go out
on my own now. Havent told many people about the diagnoses and I really don't wanna have to be dependant
on others. Getting hard contact leneses in January which might help.
Any advice?
Lisa

[Andrew MacLean]

Lisa

I am sure that the contact lenses will make a huge difference to you and to your confidence.

If the first ones don't suit you exactly, do not lose heart. They start by trying the sort of lens that suits most people most of the time and then, if that attempt is not optimal for the particular patient, they have other lenses to try.

Every good wish.

Andrew

[leolisa]

Hi Andrew,
thanks for that info, its just scary coping with this on my own so just
realising i'm not on my own and there are good solutions really helps.
Thanks again,
Lisa

[Andrew MacLean]

Lisa

None of us is alone, although it often feels like we are. This forum is not only nationwide, it is an international community of people who all share our eye condition, or have someone close who does.

Every good wish

Andrew

[Lynn White]

Hi Lisa

Once you get lenses, your vision will be much better and you will be able to think better! Its amazing how having fuzzy vision can affect your state of mind.

Having said that, you do need to make sure you do go out and about. As it happens, I did exactly the same thing (knock myself out walking into something) and I have normal vision - my issue was that I was simply not paying attention where I was walking! So vision isn't always the issue here!

To a certain extent, everyone in the world is dependent on someone for something - that is part of being human. Until you get lenses, you may need to rely on friends, whom you have told of the diagnosis, to accompany you outdoors, and there is nothing at all wrong in that.

If you have any questions about KC you didn't manage to ask the professionals at Moorfields, don't hesitate to ask!

Lynn

[melissa]

you are not alone! we have all felt overwhelmed by our KC and for me it was certainly worst when i was just diagnosed... i also used to walk into things and struggled mostly with not seeing steps and with crossing roads (especially at night). my boyfriend at the time was great at subtly taking my elbow and leading me across the road, when i couldn't make sense of all the light sprays and starbursts.
i agree with Lynn that everyone needs other people... don't let it control you... keep moving forward. the poor vision will definitely be improved by lenses... there are loads of solutions to the vision problem, and the diagnoses is a good place to start. keep us informed... but keep living your life....

[leolisa]

Hi all,
thank you all so much for your advice. It is just really hard for me to ask for help and
that is why i have come to this site. I am going to be moving into my own place in a few
months and i'm just scared that if i ask for help now i become dependant on people and when
i live on my own i won't get that help anymore. I won't even go out at night because all the
lights from cars and street lamps make it really confusing and scary. I know if i asked for
help my friends at home would help but its not fair on them. few questions]
- How long does it take to get lenses fitted at moorfields?
- I get dry eyes so will that affect me wearing contact lenses?
- Will i notice a big improvement with the lenses?
- Does anyone else (with Keratoconus) see lots of images of one object and do you break
things because you misjudge where they are? or am i just clumsy?
takes me ages to type this because i have to concentrate so mch to see.
Thanks again, i.ll stop moaning now,
Lisa

[Andrew MacLean]

Hi all,
thank you all so much for your advice. It is just really hard for me to ask for help and
that is why i have come to this site. I am going to be moving into my own place in a few
months and i'm just scared that if i ask for help now i become dependant on people and when
i live on my own i won't get that help anymore. I won't even go out at night because all the
lights from cars and street lamps make it really confusing and scary. I know if i asked for
help my friends at home would help but its not fair on them. few questions]
- How long does it take to get lenses fitted at moorfields?
- I get dry eyes so will that affect me wearing contact lenses?
- Will i notice a big improvement with the lenses?
- Does anyone else (with Keratoconus) see lots of images of one object and do you break
things because you misjudge where they are? or am i just clumsy?
takes me ages to type this because i have to concentrate so mch to see.
Thanks again, i.ll stop moaning now,
Lisa

Lisa, never stop moaning. If you can't moan here then we have failed!
I can't answer your first question about the time it takes for Moorfields to dispense lenses. I guess that would depend on the complexity of the lens. Others would be able to give you a better idea.
Yes, dry eye will affect the comfort of your lens fit. I use clinitas soothe with my lens in my eye, and I find this extends my lens weartime.
You should notice an amazing difference with your lenses in. Your sight may well return to normal or better than normal.
Yes, I think we all see multiple images, because our 'cones' split the light and images. The idea of the contact lens is to correct the cone so that we see clearly a single sharp image. I also misjudge distances (at about arm's length). Maybe we're both clumsy but I think that the different vision in the eyes of a KC sufferer may have something to do with it. Again, lenses may well correct this effect.

Every good wish

Andrew

[Lia Williams]

Hi Lisa,

I'll try to answer you questions:

- How long does it take to get lenses fitted at moorfields?

The appointment to fit the lenses could be quite a long one as they may try several types of lenses. Also you may be asked to sit in the waiting room wearing the lenses for half an hour or so to see how they settle. The time to dispense the lenses varies; if they are made by Moorfields themselves they could be ready in a few days, although if they are made by elsewhere it will take a few days longer. Normally the lenses are posted to you. However as you have not worn lenses before they might want you to go back to the hospital to see how the actual lenses fit and to ensure that you know how to put them in and remove them.

- I get dry eyes so will that affect me wearing contact lenses?

Dry eye doesn't help, but you will learn how to manage it and as Andrew says there are drops that can help extend contact lens wear time.

- Will i notice a big improvement with the lenses?

Yes, you should notice a big improvement while wearing the lenses. The lenses should merge all those multiple images into a single one. There may be some ghosting left but compared with not wearing the lenses it should be a big improvement.

Good Luck,

Lia

[leolisa]

Thanks guys,
feelin a bit netter after that advice. I just need to be positive and keep talking
about it, bottling it up makes the problem seem much bigger. Just gotta get through
christmas, i'm flying to belfast to see my family which will be a struggle but it willbe nice to
see them.
Thanks again
Lisa