UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hey guys, I'm new to the forums, but unfortunatly not new to KC! I have had it for 5 years, diagonsed and had soft contacts for 2 years, now hard contacts for 2 years also. I was always an outgoing and friendly person, always able to talk to anybody, especially after a drink! But now I have been wearing contacts I have really bloodshot eyes and it has really affected me. I don't go out and when I do, people comment on how I have bloodshot eyes.

It has dented my confidence no end, and in fact I have started drinking at home by myself. I feel this is only going to get worse and affect my work.

So... ermm.... I don't know what to do I just feel like crying

Hi Archie and welcome to the forum,
I'm sure lots of us here understand how you're feeling. Loss of confidence and depression are sadly common among people whose sight is poor. One of the sessions at our 2011 national conference earlier this year was on emotional support, with a talk given by the person who runs the RNIB Emotional Support Service. They can be contacted by e-mail ess@rnib.org.uk or by ringing the RNIB Telephone Helpline 0303 123 9999 and asking to be put through to the emotional support team.
But I wonder why your eyes are getting so bloodshot. Does it happen in the evenings when you've had your lenses in a long time, or is it there all the time? It may be that the fit of your lenses is not as good as it should be any more, or that you'd do better with a different sort of lens. If you e-mail your postal address to anne@keratoconus-group.org.uk there's quite a bit of information we can send you about different kinds of lenses for KC and other options for the condition.
When my lens wear was very limited and painful, I became a hermit too, just going to work and having no social life. Not a good place to be. But you're not alone, and I'm sure you'll find plenty of support here with suggestions from others on how they cope.
All the best
Anne

Hello Archie, I'm sorry you are going through this though phase in your life. I had the same experience about 3 months ago and fortunately I am now free of any feelings of depression. I've also been diagnosed for about 4-5 years. The first 2 years i wore soft, but then they told me I needed hard contacts. I had no problems with my hard contacts until this summer when I got an inflammation on both my eyes and had to be without contacts for about a week (and you know how hard that is when you have keratoconus). I have 20/200 and 20/400 vision so it was hard to see and go to school like that for a while. After that experience I was desperate for answers, and after trying 2 other types of lenses my eyes still kept getting red everyday. Right before school started I got feelings of depression because I thought i had no other alternatives, but then I got the crosslinking procedure and my eye has healed well and now dont get red anymore, I just wanted to let you know that I also went through what you are going through right now, and I hope reading about someone who has had the exact same problem as you is back to normal and feeling great and optimistic about life.
And also, Have you tried other types of contacts like the hybrid ones that have the soft outer layer and hard center?
If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.