Questions about KC, glasses, progression etc

[abf]

Hi.

I have mild kerataconus.

I was diagnosed about 15/16 years ago when I was in my mid twenties. My astigmatism deterioated fairly rapidly in my late 20s (but still stayed less than most people with KC) and then was fairly stable for 8/9 years but in the last couple my astigmatism in my right eye increased again.

I am 41 now and my right eye cyl is -4.5. The left eye is less than that. I am also a little bit shortsighted and due to age have added some longsightedness into the mix. (Although I always was slightly longsighted in one eye and shortsighted in the other).

I wear glasses for vision correction and was a 'whisker away from needing varifiocals/bifocals' according to the optician last time.

I have some questions:

Given that my KC is still mild is it likely to always be or could I still get some deterioation?

If I do get more deterioation in my astigmatism what is the max level of cyl that can be corrected by wearing glasses before contact lenses are required? (I am hoping to stick with glasses)

Can an astigmatism ever improve with KC?

Have people found bifocals to be ok if needed? (If I get more longsighted I would struggle to afford varifocals)

Thanks. I know a lot of people have it worse than I do.

I am due to see the optician again soon.

[Anne Klepacz]

Hi and welcome to the forum!
There's never any cast iron guarantees with KC, but the cornea starts to age naturally after the age of 40 which means it becomes thicker. So the chances are good that it will stay mild for you. The other thing that happens as we age (not related to KC) is that the eye finds it harder to 'accommodate' ie switch between long and short distance vision. Which is where bifocals or varifocals come in. I'll leave one of the experts to answer your questions about specific prescriptions.
All the best
Anne

[abf]

Thanks very much for your welcome. Fingers crossed I will be OK then with the KC as I get deeper into my 40s.

The level of correction I get with glasses for my right eye is not very good this last year - although I'm not sure I got totally the right prescription for it as I was very tired during my last eye exam. The axis had changed as well as the other measures. I should have gone back really to check again but I have managed OK with it and the left is corrected well.

I am due a new eye test soon (a year after the last one). I guess another option rather than bi or varifocals if I need them would be separate reading and distance glasses.

[space_cadet]

I hope your KC remains at a mild rate x

[abf]

Thank you. I can see from your signature that you are having a horrible time with your eyes. I hope the eye doctors have something more to offer you.

[abf]

It's me again. I remain fortunate in still having mild KC in terms of the shape of my corneas.

But I'm 43.5 now and still getting deterioration! I guess my cornea isn't thickening. My right eye cyl is at -5.5 currently (2 pt.s more than my left eye). Hopefully it will stop changing soon as I get more middle aged although my optician will be calling me in soon 6 months after my last appointment. It's odd that that progression of the disease for me seemed to slow down an awful lot in my 30s but then pick up again once I hit 40. My eyesight can still be corrected sufficiently with glasses which makes me lucky. Although I do feel eye strain with my right eye (have done these past couple of years as the correction for it is not so good).

Also not become longsighted as yet (I wasn't a 'whisker away' from needing bifocals when I had that eye examination I referred to in my first post, just extremely tired!- I have an unrelated illness which often leaves me exhausted.)

[James_Ldn]

If the KC is still getting worse, have you thought about having cross-linking done?

[abf]

Thanks for your reply.

I haven't really thought about doing anything different to be honest as I keep hoping I won't have to and that glasses will do even if they don't work so well for my right eye. I'll see how things are at my next appointment. That coming up and my mother being diagnosed with glaucoma (although unrelated to KC I know) prompted me to post again last night as I was thinking about the health of my eyes.

[munster]

It's odd that that progression of the disease for me seemed to slow down an awful lot in my 30s but then pick up again once I hit 40.

Its not really odd. KC is unique and very unpredictable.

I had very mild KC (no glasses/CL needed) until 2005 then it progressed aggressively, and as of now, still showing signs of progression and i'm 38.

I'm off to see a specialised consultant at St. Pauls Eye Hospital, Liverpool in Jan 2013.

I hope it does stay mild for you, its being a bloody pain (not sore pain) for me atm

[abf]

Sorry to hear that, munster.

I hope the appointment proves to be helpful.