Corneal Topology

[StuUK]

Hi

I’m new here so please forgive me if this has been asked before.

I was diagnosed with having keratoconus last month and the consultant arranged for me to have a corneal topology today. I was wondering if anyone else has had problems with the scanner not reading their KC eye.

The scanner read my non KC eye fine but apparently could not get a good reading from my KC eye despite around 20 attempts. I found this quite daunting (and tiring) as I had hoped to find out just how bad the KC was but now I feel that I may have to rely on other methods to track the progression which may be less effective.

I would be grateful to know if anyone else has had this problem and if so what happens next.


Thanks

Stuart

[GarethB]

Hi Stu,

There are many scanners, but the first I had on my bad KC eye only cought 60% of the cornea. A newer machine managed to scan all of it eventually.

This took patience from the optom and me.

Basically I had to sit alot more rigid than I normaly do and really concentrate on looking straight ahead and keeping my eye still. The problem he had was the location of the cone and light scattering.

So had to keep eye and head really still while he fiddled with the controls and while the measurements were taken.

You may have better luck at your next visit, but the topography can cahnge slightly between readings without the KC progressing.

Many factors as to why this is, but you can have an eye tet in the morning and again in the aftrenoon and the results will vary slightly.

Topography helps in diagnosing extremely early KC and is also helpful in determining which type of contact lens is likely to be a godd start.

Hope this helps some.

[Anne B]

Hi

I have the same problem. I have small eyes so the first time i had a topograph my husband had to pull up my eyelids, this did seem to work. But i had one at Moorfields a few weeks ago and my left eye was fine but had no joy with the right(my worse eye)no matter how hard everyone pulled.
So you are not alone.

Anne

[ChrisK]

Same thing happened to me,

I was there for what seemed and eternity, I tried so hard but in the end my eye was watering so much it was becoming impossible.

My good eye got a perfect reading immediately.

It certainly seems rather common so I'd try not to let it bother you Stu.

[John Smith]

Yes, I've had the same thing. It really is the supreme irony that the machines for measuring topographies cope fine with normal eyes (which don't benefit from a topography), but struggle with the very eyes that need a topography most.

[Per]

True enough! But in a world where KC is so rare that you would think you were alone with it, it is no surprise that it is so. Those machines are meant for every day small corneal errors, easily corrected with one day lenses for people that see pretty good even without lenses or glasses. And that is also where the cash flow iies. In most places optometrists give up and then asks for money when it comes to KC. That is why I am so happy to have found people to trust and treatment paid by the public health service.

[StuUK]

Thank you for yoru replies!

Its good to know that Im not the only one with this problem. I guess I was a little shocked as I dont consider my sight to be that bad at the moment and the lack of a reading seemed to imply that the KC was more severe than I had first thought.

I suffer from slight ghosting particularly with lights while driving at night which seem to streak, but my sight is at the moment corrected using glasses thanks to a very patient optician, although the glasses dont get rid of the ghosting.

Thanks

Stuart

[GarethB]

Ghosting is due to the amount of light being bounced around through the KC, that is why at night it is worse.

Do you have any form of light tint or antireflective coating on your glasses?

If driving is the worst, you can get very light tints for car windows that have extremely good anti glare properties.

Both my cars have this fitted and it is so light you ca not tell it is there, but it works wonders for me.

[StuUK]

Thanks for the advice Garath!

I have been considering tinting the windows but was unsure as to whether it would make any difference. Do you have any further information on the tints you had done?

I havent got tints on my glasses as I could only afford a cheap pair as I maxed out on my westfield last year before I knew about the KC! But if its likely to make a significant difference then I will get them tinted.

Thank you again!

[GarethB]

Will find the information, not sure how good it would be on a Westfield with the roof down.

My third car still has the untinted windows being a Mk1 Capri RS3100.

Westfield is still a good track day car