Keratoconus and Pregnancy

[James Colclough]

All I can say, is wow, thank god I am not a woman.

Coz with nasacort optanol and telfast I don't think I could cope with anything else.

Exczema, my mother totally smothered me in betnovate as a child. Over 40 years ago.

No more exczema and very little enamel on my teeth. But plenty of coning. Not sure if it was a good trade off on balance.

[cherishu2]

I was told it is to do with fluid in the eye during pregancy as we accumulate more.
Mine were better during pregnancy and worse when not

[Alison Fisher]

Hi Lynne

I've had two pregnancies go to term, both pre graft. I don't remember much happening KC-wise during the first other than my contact lens chap telling me that it could be harder to fit me properly until at least six weeks after the birth because of the affects of pregnancy on my eyes. I think he said something about hormones and fluid levels (??). Sorry to be so vague but it was seventeen years ago.

The second pregnancy was far more eventful KC-wise. By that point they had given up trying to fit a lens I could stand to wear on one eye and about a month before I was due I managed to lose the lens for the other eye. It pinged out when I was at a friend's house never to be seen again. It was decided (can't remember why) not to get an identical replacement but to wait until after the birth to be fitted for a new lens, but by the time I went the KC in that eye had 'run out of control' and I couldn't be fitted. That was when I was offered my first graft.

At the time I blamed that pregnancy for the acceleration of my KC, but not in a resentful way, and of course I have no proof that it was to blame.

I can understand your feelings about grafts but mine have both been fantastic. I always struggled very badly with lenses. To be able to just slip a pair of specs on and see well has never got old for me. KC has a minimal impact on my life now (one hospital visit each year, one trip to the optician and no lenses). I got myself in a right tizz before each of them (I found the donor aspect difficult to cope with) but they have both been more than worth it.

I hope things settle down for you and you enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Jan 22nd is my hubbie's birthday - an excellent date.

[Andrew MacLean]

Nothing to add to your question, just wanted to add my voice to all the welcomes above.

All the best.

Andrew

[sonaparmar]

I am convinced that hormones play a role. It appears to me that high levels of progesterone seem to be the worst. I am a nutritionist/naturopath and found that taking a herb to improve fertility (in my case by increasing progesterone levels) made things worse.

I recently came across a case where a woman's KC worsened during the first trimester, stabilised during the second and then actually improved on the third trimester.

I also have KC and fine that ovulation and my period are the worst time.