UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Posted: **Sun 10 Dec 2006 1:10 pm**

Can this be it?

John Smith
Guest

Posted: Wed 17 Oct, 2001 20:21 Post subject:
I've just found this group, and thought I'd share my story:

I've been diagnosed with KC for about 5 years now. The first year was in ignorance though, as Boots were attempting to correct my vision with RGP lenses. Eventually (about a year later), they gave up, told me I needed a transplant and got my GP to refer me to a consultant.

The consultant told me to find a better optician(!) and suggested I saw a fabulous optician in my area. They've been great, and I've been on Rose K RGP lenses there for a while. I've been getting replacement left lenses (I'm effectively blind in the right eye with KC) every 3-4 weeks now since Easter, but now even the great optician has given up and sent me back to the consultant.

This time, the consulant agreed with the optician, but told me that although I've "not run the gamut of weird and wonderful contact lenses", I'm not suitable for them as both my corneas are scarred; so she's recommending a graft in both eyes, worst first.

She doesn't feel that she does enough graft ops to do a good job on me, so she's going to refer me to one of her colleagues.

Does anyone have any advice on what I should be asking the new consultant?

thanks,

John

Andrew[/url]

Posted: **Sun 10 Dec 2006 1:13 pm**

Andrew you ahve too much time on your hands and in this time of Good Will to all mankind

Posted: **Sun 10 Dec 2006 1:28 pm**

I'm recovering from one of those winter visuses. Feeling bnetter but not ready to emerge back into the society of humankind. Whiling away the long hours by reviewing some old posts.

Is that John's first post?

Andrew

Posted: **Mon 11 Dec 2006 10:42 am**

Hi Andrew,

Yes, it certainly does seem to be my very first post. The timing (and indeed, content) appear to be right.

Never thought that five years later I'd be running the forum, producing a DVD, sitting on the committee...) :roll:

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Posted: **Mon 11 Dec 2006 11:21 am**

Feeling better already, thanks John.

It is amazing what you find when you have a few hours to trawl back through old posts!

Andrew

Posted: **Mon 11 Dec 2006 2:14 pm**

John - on behalf of the committee and everybody else out there can I say how very glad we are that you found us in 2001. Where would we be without you? A treasure beyond price!!
Anne

Posted: **Mon 11 Dec 2006 2:26 pm**

I think this might be Gareth's first Post. He did post several times on August 21, 2004, but this is the earliest I could find.

Posted: Sat 21 Aug, 2004 15:44 Post subject:
I went under a self imposed driving ban prior to my grafts in 1989 and have found that it has never been necessary to declare that I once had eye problems.

The sight in my right eye has deteriorated again (but not the grafted part of the eye), the left graft is still fine and was told I was OK to drive. I can only see out of one eye at present, but I am still legal to drive. Recently returned from racing at the Nurburgring in Germany.

As long as you can read a number plate at the requiered distance, you are safe to drive, the optician is best to answer this. Night driving has been made easier with a non-reflective coating on my glasses, prior to that a very slight tint sunglasses helped (but ask optician first) and when I wore contacts prior to a graft, tinted contacts helped too.

Word of caution, I found when rallying I had to close one eye to judge corners. At this time I had the graft in my right eye and needed no further sight correctiona and was effectively blind in my left. My co-driver often got scared as he thought I was driving with my eyes shut!!!

Hope this helps.

Gareth

He has been offering wise advice and valuable support ever since. I know that I go on benefiting from the helop, advice and support of both Gareth and John as well as everybody else who posts here.

Andrew

Posted: **Mon 11 Dec 2006 3:58 pm**

I remember that one

Came her looking for help and saw some questions being asked about problems I had already confronted.

Still methoically go through the forums. Lokk at the new postings and were appropriate give a response before starting a new thread or asking a question.

There have been many times where I have posted responses and then forgoten to ask my own question in an area that I needed help :oops:

Andrew; What about your first post?

Posted: **Mon 11 Dec 2006 4:15 pm**

Lost int he old QT strings I am afraid. But I did find Louise's

Louise Pembroke
Guest

Posted: Thu 19 Sep, 2002 19:28 Post subject:
Hello, can anyone help? I've had both corneas grafted, wear a lens in one eye in which most of my vision is concentrated, the other eye is not that great and is prone to double vision. This is causing me problems in dance class, I can't pirouette on my bad eye side and can't work out how to adjust my focus or whether it's simply not possible to turn on that side. Any suggestions welcomed!

Andrew