UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I posted last week that David was doing great wearing both of his lenses. He is that has not changed however he does appear to have a problem and I would welcome your advice about what is happening with his left eye.

Four days ago when David removed his lens for bed he said that he had double vision in his left eye. It lasted for a few hours. He does not sleep well and is often awake into the early hours. He left me a note to say that he had seen double for about four hours. Now this has happened every night since then and today he got up with double vision in his left eye.

We don't go back to the Hospital until mid November because he is doing so well - should I be worried and should I try and get another appointment?

thanks

Carole

Carole,

When does Davids double vision occur?
While wearing lenses or after he has taken them out?

After taking my lenses out apart from the blur I see things as if looking through a rippling stream. You know if you look at the gravel on a stream bed as the water flows that shimmering rippling effect.

That apparently is down to the shape of my corneas changing shape as they no longer have the weight of the lens pushing on them so changing their shape. My vision is so blurree without lenses I could not say if I see double or not.

It is a possiblility that if this is a case that Davids brain is becoming dependent on his lenses. Over time I have adapted to blurred vision and can cope fine without them.

From your initial post, it does seem to me that David with his accute senses is articulating what many experience but find hard to describe. So it may well be his eyes and brain readjusting to vision without lenses.

Hope this makes a little sense.

Regards

Gareth

Carole, I agree with Gareth - if the double vision is AFTER David removes his lenses.

I always found that I ended up with a strict routine. Lenses were inserted at various times of the day, but as soon as they are removed, I went to bed.

It may be just that the post-lens vision is the same as the pre-lens vision that I was happy with in the morning; but once I'd got used to the good vision when the lenses were in, the switch back to blurred/double vision was too much.

And most KCers will see multiple images, especially at night with artificial lights turned on, so I wouldn't worry too much.

The diagram below explains why a KCer without a contact lens will see multiple images (a normal-sighted person would have all the arrows focussing on the same point on the retina):

Thanks guys,

Yes the double vision is occuring when he takes the lens out, although it was still there when he got up yesterday morning - which is why I made my post.

From your initial post, it does seem to me that David with his accute senses is articulating what many experience but find hard to describe. So it may well be his eyes and brain readjusting to vision without lenses.

So how come I did not think about this Thanks for pointing this out Gareth because it makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the diagram John I am sure that David will understand it as for me

The reason that I was worried is because his left eye is his good eye. The KC has only just started in that eye and I was worried that it may be progressing. I was more than a tad worried when the Optom told David that sometimes wearing a lens can actually make the KC worse

I will hopefully hand this over to David when he puts in an appearance today.

Carole

Not all optoms are the best communicators.

Because the lens in some cases pushes the KC bulge back in when we wear the lenses, it can appear that our KC has changed.

Sight changes through out the day and from day to day anyway.

The topographies of my eye show that after 1 years lens wear there has been no change. The first was done and I had never worn a lens since my grafts and the second was after wearing lenses for a year. I had to take my lenses out before the secon topography so that was literally done 30seconds after lens removal and I had been wearing them for 8 hours.

A very minor change in our corneal surface can appear to have quite dramatic effects on what we can and can not see.

Thanks Gareth

Please you and the others are here

Carole