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I got diagnosed with KC a week ago...HELP!

Posted: Sun 17 Dec 2006 10:54 am
by donna
What a shock it was to be told this is why I cant see much out of my left eye!
I have had a lurk on this site a couple of times and think I need to join in, I will need help and advice and a virtual shoulder to cry on!
I work for the Deaf Association and have told my boss, she is being very supportive. Good job!
Any advice or help?
:D

Posted: Sun 17 Dec 2006 10:57 am
by jayuk
Donna

Glad you found the site!

This place is full of informaton, knowledge and experience...I am sure youll find it a great source and even an aid in managing your KC

What information was you given on the KC?...Have you been given lenses or glasses?

Jay

Posted: Sun 17 Dec 2006 1:16 pm
by Andrew MacLean
donna

It is always good to welcome a new member to the forum. congratulations on finding us, and now that you know the way I hope that you never feel yourself a stranger here.

We are, in truth, all pretty much in the same boat. I have foudn the others here a wonderful source of help, support and advice. Sometimes they have told me things that I'd have preferred not to hear, but their advice has been good and thoughtful.

Where are you on the journey? If your vision is a bit ropey, is that with contact lenses or without them?

All the best

andrew

Posted: Sun 17 Dec 2006 5:05 pm
by donna
I have new glasses with a strong lens and for now they are helping a lot.
The optician told me to go back to see her in 3 months time to have the cornea cheacked again, any changes and she will refer me to the hospital.
Thanks for the welcome :)

Posted: Sun 17 Dec 2006 5:56 pm
by Tracey Boyce
Hi I was diagnosed last week as well. My brother has had KC for years and has undergone the cornea graft which unfortunately didnt work for him. Mine is only mild at the moment. I have glasses to correct it, but have been told i only need to wear them when reading or on the computer. I'm not sure if this is correct. Should i be wearing them all the time? :D

Posted: Sun 17 Dec 2006 6:02 pm
by jayuk
Tracey

What do you mean when you say that the graft didnt work out for him?

In terms of your glasses; if you need them to get the vision, then wear them when you require that vision......and I guess only you will know that

HTH

J

Posted: Sun 17 Dec 2006 7:05 pm
by donna
I was told to wear my glasses all the time, the vision in my right eye is not bad, I am short sighted in that eye but can get by. My left eye ..the one with KC is quite bad so I need the glasses all the time. I tried to manage without them today but felt like I was going to walk into things :(

Posted: Sun 17 Dec 2006 7:14 pm
by GarethB
It is possible to get by quite well without sight correction and quite bad KC.

Where possible I give my eyes a complete rest from contact lenses (the only way my KC can be corrected). Without lenses I fulfil all the criteria to be registerd blind in the right eye and partially sighted in the left.

It does take time to adapt but life can still be just as rewarding.

KC behaves completly differnetly even in identical twins. So Tracy, just because your brother needed a graft it is quite possible you will not and your KC coule even stabilies. Mine has been stable for over 2 years now.

Welcome to the forum all those newly diagnosed, not the best Christmas present but we are here to help.

Posted: Sun 17 Dec 2006 7:53 pm
by Andrew MacLean
Tracey

Welcome! It is really good to meet you. i am sorry to hear that your brother's surgery has not produced an immediate benefit for him, and hope that this may chante in the future.

Yours aye

Andrew

Posted: Mon 18 Dec 2006 10:08 am
by Lynn White
Donna and Tracey

There is no "have to" about wearing glasses apart from driving, where the law comes into it! If the glasses make a difference that you can appreciate and you find it helps, then wear them.

If you have a high error in one eye, then not wearing can effectively mean you lose your 3D vision, which is why you feel like you are going to keep bumping into things and tripping over. Also, its good to try and wear at least some of the time so your brain can get used to the prescription. Otherwise, if the prescription increases, then you may find you can't adapt easily when you need to have it increased.

Lynn