possible success

[Andrew MacLean]

Kerrie

I am wondering whther your lesnes may be tightening on your eye? I never really made much headway with soft lenses for this reason.

Sorry this is turning out to be such a marathon for you.

All the best

Andrew

[kerrie phillips]

Tried again today and no joy. they lasted about 45 mins before my eyes went blood shot and watered again. so much so i thought they would fall out. i am at college first part of the week so will try again thursday when i am of.
I am not sure what days the lens guy is where so i am going to leave a note at the lowestoft optom for when he is there.
See what he says. I will try to persevere though as if i can not tolerate RGP's or these i will have to stick with glasses and if i do that i will never read a no plate for my driving test.(other then that my vision is fine with glasses.)

[Susan Mason]

Hi Kerry

Sorry to hear you are having problems with the new lenses and just when the vision was looking better as well.

If I have missed this in an earlier post apologies however, thought it worth asking. How soon after getting up are you trying to put them in?

THe only reason I ask is I have had contact lenses on and off now for the last 18 years and even in the early days when I did not know that I had KC my eyes did not like lenses being put in them as soon as I got out of bed. In fact in most cases I would be 2 or 3 hours with my glasses on before I even thought about putting the lenses in.
Now with the scleral lenses and no glasses I get around as best I can for the first few hours and then fingers croassed the sclerals go in ok. However, even now as everyone I to have the add bad day or week and more so if I get a nasty cold.

Hope things settle down for you.

best wishes

Susan

[kerrie phillips]

Its normally around half an hour by the time i have washed and dressed etc.
Problem is when i am on shifts earlys/lates/nights. I can not be doing with getting up to early to give it an hour or more before putting them in. when i am on a seven start. Having said that i cant start at seven as the first bus is at seven so i have to be an hour late. When i qualify though i can not see prospect employers putting up with that.
It has been eight months now and i have had enough i have spent 20 a week on driving lessons for two years and can not keep doing it its turning out to be expensive and disapointing. I may as well give them up, and if i am going to do that give up on the training i am never going to get a job if i cant drive.
I know you have all been here, and have good things to say about your experiences, but at the momment i feel really down and like theres no light at the end of the tunnel.

[Sajeev]

Kerry, I was saddened by your last post, towards the end of it.

There are many contacts to try, from Kera-soft to Rose k to Piggy-backing to Scleral lenses (and others in-between), plus also fits to try.

I've never come across anyone who was not doing better because they come on a support forum.

I hope you can track down your specialist and that the first thing he tries works first time! or better still find's out what the problem and put's it right for you

There is life after Keratoconus...

Best

[Andrew MacLean]

Kerrie

I know that feeling! I know what its like to wake up in the morning and wonder whether there is really any point. I know what its like to look through clouded eyes and wonder if they will ever again see properly.

I know what it is like to walk down a hill and hear a group of young people, evidently drunk, ahead of me and wonder whether they will do me harm as I walk past.

but I also know what it is like to have my fears turned to freedom as the 'gang' of young people go out of their way to make sure that I get across the road and all the way to my destination without trouble.

I also know what it is like to be at the very depths when somebody will phone and say that they have some time off work and wonder if I need a driver for the day.

I also know what it is like to find that, after a long time of trying and many failures, things suddenly come right. for me this last experience came with the provision of a scleral lens.

Kerrie, you are not alone. In the forum you are surrounded by people who share your experience, and we want more than anything for you to know the successes that we have enjoyed. Hang in there.

Yours aye

Andrew

[GarethB]

Kerrie,

The guest speaker at the AGM had the same fears as you, he is a foot surgeon and has KC which developed after he qualified.

Like many of us he has been treated for depression and come out the other side.

Driving lessons can be put on hold until your vision is sorted. From your other posts it sounds like you are close to qualifying and once you have that then no one can take that achievement away.

Some of us travel a longer path than others to find a suitable management option and that is where I found the support of people here so good and eventually I did see light at the end have never looked back.

Things can get difficult and you know we are here to offer help, advice and importantly support too.

[kerrie phillips]

I know your all right i guess it is just irritating that i have been ready for my driving test for nearly 6 mths, the only thing holding me back is reading the no plate. if i could do my test tomorrow without the no plate test i would pass, and all would be ok.
I want to keep them going so i don't get rusty but on the other hand i could be having lessons forever !!!

[GarethB]

Kerrie,

When I was training to be a driving instructor we were told if a student can not read a number plate for their driving test we were legally obliged to cancel the lesson on safety grounds.

In understand your position, but you wikll be surprised, you will not get that rusty. It really is like riding a bike, you never forget.

[kerrie phillips]

I will have words when he comes back of his hols and maybe give them up then till i am sorted.