UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi, I'm very confused, and looking this up via google has not been very successful. I was told in April by an ophthalmologist I had Keratoconus in both eyes, worse in my right. This morning I have been to an appointment, seen a different consultant, who says it is not KC, it is high astigmatism, but that I will still need contact lenses although producing them to my 'unusual' prescription will be almost impossible so they may have to compromise?!

Can anybody tell me the difference between KC and High Astigmatism?

The thing is, I was referred by my optician in March who wouldn't give me glasses because he said it would be pointless, and this morning I was told that I will have to wait months for my contact lens clinic appointment because of the waiting list, even though he agreed that my glasses are pretty much ineffective and I should not be driving!!!

I'm not sure what to do in the meantime, whilst waiting 'months' for my contacts

Sometimes the diagnosis of early stage KC is difficult to separate from other conditions (especially for example macular degeneration), you might have been initially misdiagnosed, or just sent to confirm it. Was the first person an optician and the second a consultant at hospital?

I'm not a professional so ignore if anything I say conflicts with anything either said.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I saw an optician in March who said it might be KC, then I saw a consultant at hospital in April who said it was definitely KC. Then on Tuesday I saw a different hospital consultant who said it was definitely not KC and is High Astigmatism. V confusing.

That would be confusing and annoying! I suppose on the plus side if it is KC it can't be too advanced (though equally could be something else). I assume they took cornea topographies?

This is how it start for me.
2006 high astigmatism, 2013 cornea graft
Make sure You visit few independent optician SPECIALIST not Google users optician

Cherry where do you live? It might be an idea to go for a private consultation with a view to getting CXL'd. The reason I say that at least you'll get scanned and so on (the NHS though it is great in many ways can be, inconsistent). It'll be much quicker and possibly put your mind at ease. Also you can get them for free in some cases.