extreme light sensitivity

[Andrew MacLean]

I got my tinted lenses on the NHS

What are you studying, and where?

Andrew

[GarethB]

While I was in full time education back in the 80's my tinted lenses were also paid for by the NHS.

The ones I have now are also coverd by the NHS so I only pay the basic NHS charges now I am a fulltime tax payer.

[Amarpal]

I'm doing my highers at the moment near Bearsden.
Hoping to go to university to study medicine or dentistry (probably medicine) later.

That's good to hear, even though I have complained about light sensitivity in the past, I have never been offered tinted lenses- I never knew that tints were available on RGPs.

[GarethB]

The tint will only be light really to help a bit with background brightness. This is so you still have a degree of vision at night.

So you will probably have to wear sunglasses of vareous tints.

Tinted contacts just help a bit, they do not fix the problem.

[Andrew MacLean]

Amarpal

I went to Bearsden Academy! Small world! We lived in Milngavie at the time.

Do you go to the contact lens clinic at Gartnavel? If so, whom do you see there?

I don't know if you have ever thought of coming to the Scottish Support Group. We are a mixed bunch of people at various stages of life and with differing problems with KC, but meeting as we do means that none of us is left floundering on our own. It has been a great help to me.

You can go on the contact list by getting in touch with Elizabeth Mair. Go to this page

http://www.keratoconus-group.org.uk/for ... um.php?f=8

click on Elizabeth's name and send her a private message.

All the best with your highers

Andrew

[Anne B]

Hi

The weather is lovely but i am so light sensitive that my eyes seem to shut on there own, i am worried that i may run someone over with my buggy! (my son must be really scared sitting in it) On the other hand im going out tonight and i can not see very well in the dark. So i will probably slip down the step on the way out. and then spend ages trying to find my friends in the pub. They will all be sitting there waving madly at me.
Oh the joys of KC

Anne

[Andrew MacLean]

Anne

I think that sensitivity to the light goes with the territory. So does poor vision in low light conditions.

There are ways round both problems: wear good quality polarized uv excluders during the day, and carry a torch at night. My son bought me a little "mag-light" torch that fits in my pocket. when I stopped using a white stick to find steps, I started using the torch. it sheds enough light for me to pick up when I am coming to a step and helps me to avoid accidents.

As to your friends waving, why not ask one of them to get up and come over when they see you entering the pub. I have found that when I explained to my friends that if I couldn't see them sitting still so I couldn't see them waving, they made the adjustment. The time comes when friends have to stop enjoying your disability and start making adjustments around it!

Andrew

[GarethB]

Depends how good your friends are.

When I was studyiong A levels, went out clubbing and my friendstold me a nice blond girl wanted me to join her on the dance floor.

Well KC and talking to a blond, I could not tell her face from the back of her head.

What they also neglected to tell me was that she was deaf

After 15 miutes of trying to make polite conversation and the people around me thinking me strange talking to myself for 15 minutes I went and sat down.

Once I found I was the but of a joke, I did think it bad taste and to this day I have no iea or desire to know what happend that group of so called friends.

Anne, I am sure yours will be far more understanding. If they will not greet you by getting up when you enter the pub, just get them to make more noise than anyone else.

[Anne B]

Hi
My friends are great and they are getting used to me not being able to find them., but they do forget. My own fault because i spent the last 5 years pretending nothing was wrong. As for a tourch i don't think i can go there yet , but thanks for the advice.

Not sure what to do about the sunglasses because i would need prescription ones. But that would be a waste of money at the moment as i am still trying to find a suitable lens. i've not heard anything from moorfields, such a slow process.

Anne

[Amarpal]

Andrew,
Sorry, I am at Boclair Academy not Bearsden. Still pretty close!
Yes, I go to Gartnavel hospital- my consultant is Dr Ramaesh and my opthamologist is Angela Carson.

Yes, Elizabteh has kindly added me to the e-mail mailing list, and I hope to attend the next meeting!