UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I will ask my consultant these questions when I go next week, but would be grateful if any of you could give your advice now.

How long was it after your graft until you were allowed to drive again?

With regards to sleeping, as long as you are wearing your eye-guard, is it safe to sleep on the side of your face where you had the graft? I tried to do this last night but felt my face stretching ever so slightly so turned over to be on the safe side!

Craig

Driving will depend on how good or bad the sight is in your other eye.

If you have sight good enough to drive in your non-graft eye, then the DVLA will probably let you carry on driving. If you have little or no sight in the non graft eye, you will have to wait until the sight in your grafted eye improves.

The key here is that you must report your operation to the DVLA.

Andrew

craig i started driving again on thursday just passed. asked the consultant, and he said id be fine....as long as i have a license.

as for sleeping...i tried my best not to sleep on that side....but i wake up there most mornings, so i guess if it doesnt feel comfortable, dont do it

Craig

I am 9 days post Op and I have 100% vision in my 'good eye'. I took my car out today for the first time. My consultant told me it was ok as long as i felt comfortable with it. I felt fine i just took it easy.
Hope i,ve been of some help.

My vision is great in my left eye, apart from very mild KC, it is more the peripherary vision I was bothered about. Will maybe just wait until I am allowed back to work.

When I was reduced to one eye, for peice of mind I re-took the Institute of Advanced Motoring Test and passed with no problems. Prior to the test I did pay for a few 'lessons' which were more for my own peice of mind to ensure I could judge distances and speed OK with one eye because of the change in depth perseption.

Two half hour lessons were all that were needed and the test was an hour.

If you are looking far ahead as we should being motorists and adjust the mirrors slightly diffently for one eyed motoring, all you need do is turn your head more to see properly out the mirrors and cut down the extent of the blind spots.

Your neck gets used to the extra use and this method hlps too f you wear lenses ans you are not moving your eyes quite to the extreme where the lens would get blinked out.

I just wondered if you tell the DVLA or not as the hospital seemed to suggest it was up to me. Apart from the periphary problem, I would think my left eye has better vision than a lot of current drivers - I can read to the bottom of the chart with a lens, and the third from bottom without.

The legal obligation to inform the DVLA is with us and not the hospital, their only obligation is to advise.

If you can see well enought o read a number plate at the prescribed distance, then contacting the DVLA contains no danger. If you cannot, then you should not be driving anywah.



Andrew