11 years and still KC in only one eye?

[keratocop]

Well, i had PRK surgery done at 25 and its like having lasik, but not as much of the cornea is lasered in the process. The CXL(my eye doctor calls C3R in canada) is suppossed to stop the progression of KC so i was thinking, though i have no basis for my opinion, that after cxl surgery, PRK is performed to correct vision to 20/20 uncorrected. But im only speculating.

[Lizb]

Not sure about the PRK, some of the others on here maybe able to answer the question regarding PRK improving vision after CXL. I am guessing that there maybe some issues due to the thickness/thiness of the cornea but i am only guessing. I am sure that some of the others will know more than me on that plan.

[rosemary johnson]

I once worked with soeone else who had KC and claimed only to have it in one eye. DOn't know how old she was or how long she'd been diagnosed (but she went on maternity leave not long before I left).
I've always had it pretty much the same in both eyes.
As regards ghosting - that might be a sign you haven't got the best fit/type of contact lenses.
Another type and/or better fit might reduce the ghosting, or with luck remove it.
Do you have to meet police rules about what type of contacts you can wear when out on patrol? - I was once having a conversation with a policeman (someone who happened to be in the job, I mean, not in the course of his duty) who said he had to be able to put his lenses in to go out on patrol as otherwsie he'd be in very thick, strong specs. Not from KC, just shortsightedness.
They didn't seem to be a problem for him, so long as he could get his vision corrected. But maybe it was fine when he joined?
Rosemary

[keratocop]

Hey Rosemary,
First you hit it right on the spot at the end. You need 20/40 uncorrected when you join and then if your eye gets worse after, then you can get contacts...stupid rule i think. Im just dreading having to get pepper sprayed in my eyes. My eye doctor said id be fine as long as i only do it once and its not repeated...gezuz another thing to worry about.
Now about the ghosting. Do i have to wear a rgp lens to get rid of the ghosting or is there something else that will sit in my eye comfortably, like a hybrid lens. What do you wear to get rid of your ghosting?
thanks
Jer

[rosemary johnson]

Hallo again,
I wear sclerals, and always have done since I was aged 14, 30-somethign years ago.
Lens technology has advanced comsiderably in those 30-something years, and more options are coming along all the time. You may be able to wear hybrid hard/soft combination lenses. or the kerasoft ones Lynn has been posting about recently.
It would need something who knows the lens field and can see your eyes to tell for sure.
And, of course, you once you've tried them!
Rosemary

[keratocop]

Hey rosemary, how long has your KC been stable for? I talked to my eye doctor today and he said there has been no change in my topography in about 6 years which is good'

[GarethB]

Hi Keratocop

In America, (not sure about Canada) CXL is done differently and there are questions as to how effective the treatmnet is over there compared to how it is done in Europe which might be why you have heard of peple needing PK afterwards.

My situation is slightly different in that 16 years post PK I developed KC in the host cornea the graft is attached to. That said it'snow been stable for 5 years and counting. Left eye had PK 20 years ago and is fine.

I use Kerasoft K3 lenses now and get 20/15 corrected which is better than 20/20.

There are a wide range of sports glasses which give full eye protection, perhaps you could wear these while doing your training and even post training should a scuffle mean pepper spray be likely to hit you in the face.

[keratocop]

Hey gareth,
Thats amazing that you get 20/15. I need to look into kerasoft lens..i wonder if its in canada. I talked to my eye doctor yesterday and asked him if there were anything other that RGP lens that will work in my eye and he said no which was pretty depressing but i wondered how much he actually knew about different lens. thanks
Jer

[rosemary johnson]

You asked how long mine had been stable.
I don't know...... don't really know if it is.
It seemed to go through a stable period in my 20s (after a hydrops in each eye) then start slowly and gradually deteriorating again.
At least, that's my perception, but as the only person who's ever done a topography (a modern sort of topography, withthe machine witht he rings of coloured light) was someone on a trial for which I was a guinea pig, I don't really know!
They have definitely been getting more light-sensitive gradually over the last 20 years or so, which isn't directly linked to the KC, but has been even more of a bane of my life that the poor visual acuity.
But no-one can measure that, SFAIK. They certinaly haven't tried to.
Rosemary

[GarethB]

Jer

No guarentee they will work but I am a firm beleiver in 'Don't knock it if you haven't tried it', so a case of seeing if your fitter can get hold of a set to try on you.

Have a look at my diary of trying these lenses GarethB K3 Lenses, we have found that having worn RGP's for a while it has taken longer than expected for the cornea to settle. Although the RGP lens fit was really good, it was putting some pressure on the cornea and has taken three months to settle properly.

The bottom of this article on the manufacturers web site has the product sheet for the lenses to show your lens fitter.The Role of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses in the Management of Keratoconus

Hope this is of help.

Gareth