Hi Can you help

[DavidF]

Hi my name David.

I've posted in this site a few times now.

I have question that's bugging me I'm in two minds wheather to go ahaed and have a cornea graft in my left eye.

I have Keratoconus in my left eye have had it in left for 1year 9months,My right is not effected at the moment but it could go in that eye but I really hope not.

The problem is at work I find it difficult to select the correct colour blance for the right photos.Are there certain lights you can buy to help with KC? I was think beause at work the lights hurt my lights quite a bit and produce a lot of glare.

I have tried serval different types of lens now in my left eye and they don't give me good results and the lens are uncomforable.

Is that really the only option to either wear contact lens or have a cornea graft.

So I don't know what to do but I don't want to rush into making a desion having the graft is a big decsion.

I've also hear about this cross linking process but i hear the treatment is not available in the uk but would cross linking treatment really work or is this just other false hope.

Also does anyone know where they are doing the research into the devloped of Keratoconus and how we could go about funding it.

I really want to help out and try raise as much money as poss and support the research into Keratoconus.

I'm put off by having a graft as hear a lot of stories of people having rejection and failed grafts.

I be most grateful if anyone has any answers or stories to share.

Thanks.

David.

[GarethB]

Hi David,

The posts you read here regarding graft problems are not representative of the KC polulation as a whole. Most of us regular posters are the extreme and amny who come here do so as a last resort.

Graft success is extremely high and only a small percentage have problesm due to rejection.

Graft is far from a cure, it's main aim is to give a corneal surface that is easier to correct the sight.

There are many lenses options to help with lens comfort. Mild KC can be treated with Kerasoft lenses, a soft lens especially for KC, standard RGP lenses, Rose K which is menat to offer better comfort and correction round the cone, piggy back lenses (RGP worn over a soft lens to protect the cornea), Sclearl lenses that cover the white of the eye too.

Best comfort and lean wear time for me is Rose K with lubricating eye drops.

Will post more later once taken daughtre to ballet!

[DavidF]

Hi Gareth,
Cheers for the advice.Moorfeilds told me i can't have soft contact lens beause they don't allow enough oxygen to the eye and my KC is left eye is too steer to fit soft lens.

Moorfeilds told me Rose K is like a brand of lens i have been given Rose K lens but it's not giving me good results.

I can't stand Scarel Lens the big lens so is there any other lens or anything else you suggust.

So do you think I should hold back on having the Cornea Graft I know it's got to be my choice but any suggestions would be most helpful.

Cheers,

David.

[GarethB]

Hi David,

No one can say if you should go on the graft list or not.

Most people opt for a graft when they feel all other avenues have been exhausted, but as I said this is a means to trying to make sight correction easier.

I am surprised moorfields have advised against soft lenses due to oxygen transfer. There are many here who frequent moorfields and use the piggy back system. A soft lens that you insert first and then wear the RGP lens on top.

It is correct that soft lenses offer less oxgen transfer than RGP, but if they wre wholly bad for you then there would be far fewer people wearing soft lenses. Could you elaborate further regarding what Moorfields said is that possible?

I just do not want to make a suggestion based on my misunderstanding the context of your post.

As you said earlier collogen crosslinking is an option, that is now offerd by some private eye care units in the UK and it is expensive.

Another option, not commonly used in the UK is intacts which to be honest I know practically nothing about!

Going back to your original post regarding lights, I find natural light best and the best fluorescent tubes or bulbs are the ones that mimic day light such as thosed used by people suffering deperession and lethargy due to lack of daylight in winter months.

To reduce glare at work I have a range of glasses with differing tints, no idea how these would affect your job if any.

Hope this helps.

Gareth

[DavidF]

cheers gareth thanks for all the help.

David.

[Andrew MacLean]

David

Lots of people wear contact lenses and sunglasses. Also, there are several sorts of lenses that can be tried.

As Gareth has said, nobody can say whether you have come to the point where you need a graft, but if you do go ahead and have it, this does not necessarily mean the end of all your eye trouble. The problem of rejection is only one potential difficulty. Many people still need lenses after their surgery.

Which hospital do you attend? Who fits your contact lenses? If your lens fitter isn't managing to get a lens that you find comfortable or even tollerable, why not change your optometrist?

Never forget, you are in control of your treatment. If one shopkeeper isn't selling a lens that suits you, switch to another shop.

Andrew

[jayuk]

David

Gareth makes a very good point in terms of Graft success and how viewing some threads on this board can misguide you in terms of the success. The cases which you see on this board are worse case, be it John's, Gareths, Mine, James, etc.......remember that majority of ppl with KC DO NOT need a graft and can easily manage in the day to day lifes. Its only when it progresses that majority of problems arise.

Cross Linking is something you should explore however you will more than likely need to take this Private in the UK.....but I have read of a few patients now who have had this in UK with great sucess so far.

Have you tried Scleral Lenses?..

Jay

[DavidF]

Cheers for the advice most helpful.

David.