UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Have just been on holiday to Crete with son Phillip (recently diagnosed with KC). He suffered really bad with very sore dry red eyes, to the point that he could hardly keep his eyes open at one point. He was using his eye drops all the time but with no real relief. He did have a good pair of wrap round sunglasses but he managed to break them and as he has a very small face we were unable to replace them whilst away, so he ended up with plaster holding them together!!

We are not due back to see the Consultant until early October and will mention this then but in the meantime was wondering whether this is something that he will have to deal with in the future - the dry red eyes that is.

Having read other postings about sunglasses have looked at the sites mentioned but they all seem to be adult sizes and although he is 14 he has a very small face and as such adult glasses are either too wide or the lenses are too big. Does anyone know where we could get a decent pair, that won't cost the earth and will actually fit his face.

In hot dry weather, I too find the usual eye drops are not good enough, but will admit that Systane has given me far longer relief in the hot dry weather.

As far as glasses go, at work we only have adult safety gasses, but we have some small people that work for us. To stop glasses falling off, many use a cord that goes over the arms of the glasses and when they pu them on, they just pull it tight and it helps keep the glasses on their face. They have also found that my safety glasses from North Safety are very adjustable. The arms are ruberised for comfort but do not curve round the ears, just round the head. They are flexible enough to bend inwards to make them tighter and outwards so when I tip my head forward they drop off! Being saftey glasses they have an anti-scratch coating, reduce dust near the eyes and are fully UV protecting so may be ideal for an active youngster, they will also fit my six year old daughter, they are loose on her, but may be OK with a 14 year old. Oh and my daughter is small for her age!

Hope this helps.

Gareth