I need help. post transplants"

[Alison Fisher]

It's along the line of the graft. I take it then that the laser treatment wouldn't be of use to me.

[Barney]

If the scarring goes deep into the cornea I'd assume it would be difficult but if your photophobia is anything like mine was then you shouldn't have to put up with it. Think I'd explain the extent of the problem to the main man and ask what could be done.

[Alison Fisher]

Like I said earlier I wish we'd had this conversation yesterday.

[John Smith]

I may be being dense here, but surely, if the ridge is along the edge of the graft, then it would be outside the pupil, so it wouldn't be causing photophobia, would it?

[Alison Fisher]

I haven't got a clue.

What actually causes photophobia? I've mentioned it to my doctors many, many times and it's shrugged off as one of those things I've got to 'put up with' which is pretty much what I've done and not looked into it any further.

[Val G]

I understood that sensitivity was because all light was not being focussed onto the 'normal' part of the back of the eye, an excessive amount being scattered to 'more sensitive' areas.

[John Smith]

Yes Val, that's my understanding too.

[GarethB]

Barney,

When i was first diagnosed, photophobia was not a problem, if anything I needed things to be better light.

Post graft I was photphobic but only for about the first month.

My current photphobia has only been present for the past 2 years, mainly in my right eye which has developed KC in the old cornea the graft is attached too. I think the photohobia in the left eye is a result of having become allergic to my lenses which is now managed quite succesfully.

[Barney]

Gareth and Alison, I hope you get some help with it as I don’t think it’s always understood how debilitating, or physically painful, photophobia can be.

Gareth did you say somewhere that you had a cataract? I think the scattering of light that causes often causes photophobia. I’m told I’ve a cataract but as yet none of the joys of photophobia have returned.

[GarethB]

Barney,

When my sight problems were first diagnosed at 17 the optom thought I might have glaucoma or a cataract, probably both hence a quick referal to a specialist.

Then KC was diagnosed.

Photophobia was brought under control very quickly with the use a few pairs of glasses of varying tints and my employers providing the tinted safety glasses as laboratories have white walls and white benches which reflect everything.

Tinted anti glare film on the car windows has fixed the glare problem at night, total outlay to control the situation was less than £200, the price some feel is necessary to be spent on glasses