UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi,

I am 21 years old and i was diagnosed with keratoconus 2 years ago in both eyes, my right eye is very bad and im not able to see anything without my contact, whilst my left eye is not too bad. i have been wearing scleral contacts for 1 year now and I get pretty good vision.
However during my last visit at Moorfields London hospital I was told that the keratoconus was progressing in my left eye and I had to get CXL treatment done, the cornea is too thin in my right eye to get the CXL done.

So i went ahead with the procedure this past wednesday, the op was painless however the following 12 hrs or so it was pretty bad and I was in severe pain + light sensitive. I am in my fourth day now, not in pain anymore but still a little light sensitive however i feel at times something is my eye but thats probably the contact bandage that was placed. Plus my vision is very blurry, my right eye was already bad as it is and i was depended on my left eye (the operated eye).
My question is when can i start using my scleral contact again in my left eye, and does the presciption change. Also how long will the blur/mist last in my eye, I pretty much cant do anything with my dependable eye gone for a period of time, i have enlarged the screen text in order to write this post because my right eye is not good enough even with my contact on

Thank you

Hi Loochiano,
I'm afraid I don't know how long it is before you can wear a contact lens again, though hopefully some others here who have had CXL may be able to tell you what they were told. I'm also assuming you have a follow up appt at Moorfields soon, so you'll be able to ask about the lens then. Or you could ring the contact lens clinic for advice if your appointment isn't in the next few days.
From all I've read on this forum from other people who have had CXL, it can take a while for the blurriness to go, and the vision can continue to change for months or even a year. So I don't think what you're experiencing now is anything to worry about. But do go prepared with a list of questions you need answers to when you next go to Moorfields.
All the best
Anne

Hi Loochiano

Was this done at Moorfields or somewhere else?

The centre where you had this done should have advised you about post op Contact Lens wear. You should contact them to ask about this as soon as possible.

If you get no joy from that, I will give you some advice but I really would prefer you try asking the centre first.

Lynn

I'm surprised you weren't better informed by the clinic/hospital. Never be afraid to ask doctors these things.

I'm afraid your contact might be out for a while, but really it all depends on what your doctor says.

Thanks for all your replies...well I had a follow up appointment today at moorfields hospital exactly 1 week after my CXL. I was told that my eye has not "healed" yet and i have to continue putting in drops daily for another week or so, and i was given another appointment in 2 weeks.

I feel slightly better with the contact bandage removed, still hazy vision and light sensitive though and my eye does still feel kinda sore. Plus i cant use my scleral contact till i have been seen again in couple of weeks which means I am using my bad eye for vision. Its already been a week since i took time of from work, not sure how long more I need