West Midlands Meeting Group

[Kaimerinda]

Hi

My daughter was diagnosed with Keratoconus last weekend, she's due to have her first fitting for lenses on 28th March. I can't find a list of meetings for the West Midlands group so I just wondered if anyone knew about the meetings and when they were, or are there any fellow suffers in the Dudley area, please? She's 19 and a bit apprehensive about what all this will mean for her, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Gill

[Anne Klepacz]

Hi Gill
What a shame that you didn't look a few days earlier - there was a meeting yesterday! I'm not sure when the next one will be, but meetings are advertised on the Events ticker at the top of this forum. In the meantime, although your daughter will probably find it takes a few weeks to get used to contact lenses, they should improve her vision considerably which always helps with the motivation to persevere with building up the wearing time. Most people with KC manage pretty well with contact lenses (don't be put off by some of the things you'll read on this forum - most people post when they are having problems, not when everything is going fine!)
And if you'd like more information, do e-mail me your postal address and I'll send you our basic information booklet about keratoconus, and the DVD of our last conference which covered all the current options for the condition anne@keratoconus-group.org.uk. I don't know if your daughter is studying or working, but you'll also find some useful leaflets on the home page of this website on KC at Work and on Supporting Students with KC.
I hope the appt goes well.
Anne

[GarethB]

Gill,

If I were you I'd send your adress details to Anne anyway and you will automatically get a letter in the post saying when the next meeting is.

There is an East Midlands meeting in Leicester on Saturday 14th March, details on the ticker tape above if you'd like to meet others in the general Midlands area.

Unsure if I'd be able to make that one yet.

[Kaimerinda]

Thank you for your advice - I'll definitely send details to Ann. I wear contacts myself, soft ones though. I wondered if the hospitals issue contact lens applicators? I looked on the internet for some and found them in the US, just wondered whether it would be worthwhile ordering any. Thanks again for your advice.

Gill

[GarethB]

Gill,

I must admit contact lens aplicators is new to me. I am familier with what I call mini plungers for removing lenses. If the hospital issues applicators can you let us know as many others may have though about the very same thing but just not posted the question.