UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I had an appointment today with Mr Tuft at Moorfields to discuss a possible graft for my right eye. I am borderline to drive and my left eye has been getting worse over the past 2 years or so.

Initially I saw Mr Tuft's colleague and within seconds he told me I had advanced cataracts.

Mr Tuft then saw me and his first comment was "hardly classic keratoconus" and had to look at my notes to be convinced I even had it!

I am scheduled to have my right eye operated on in April and with only a 3 week recovery period, I have a sense of relief. Driving will hopefully then not be a problem.

Whilst I am quite relieved, I am surprised that the optomotrists did not spot the cataracts despite giving me thorough check up's at 6 monthly intervals, the last check being this morning.

Maybe go back to the Optometrist and ask them?

What are they going to do about the cataracts?...Are they going to do the graft and cataract same time?

No Jay, cataract only and hopefully a graft will not then be necessary.

Assuming all goes well the other eye will then be done as well.

Perhaps I need to join the cataract self help group

Michael

Thereare several of us in this group who have (0r have ahd) cataracts of one sort or another. Welcome to the sub group!

All the best with your surgery. do I take it that this is cataract surgery, and not KC?

Hi Andrew.

Yes, cataract surgery only for the moment. I am optomistic that this will resolve my immediate problems.

Apart from cataracts Andrew, we have something else in common..... we are both 23 years older than Anne Bishop

Don't start on me I am having a bad day
middle kid woke up with chicken pox youngest kid had wet the bed and this was all before 7.00am!!!!

I hope the cataract surgery goes well for you.did you realise you had a problem was your vision getting worse?
why did Mr Tuft think you KC was not typical?

Anne

Michael

Subtract your 23 from mine and we are both the same age as Anne, although I am not sorry to have left behind chicken pox and the rest that comes with young children.

Anne I hope your little one recovers quickly. I can stil remember having chicken pox as a child and it really wasn't any fun at all.

Andrew

Michael
I know nothing about grafts - but lots about cataracts, having has mine done in August 2006 before my KC was diagnosed. (see recent "help is at hand" post string). My only advice to you is to make absolutely sure that it is the cataract that is causing the problem - I was "hardly classic KC" - wasn't even considered at the time - and was told that cataracts were causing my problems but the operation merely made the problems even worse - and I subsequently got the KC diagnosis. Don't want to put you off or worry you unnecessarily, but merely make sure you are properly informed. The absolute desperation I felt when the cataract op didn't cure my double/multiple image vision as I had been led to believe it would was devastating. And I'm still trying to come to terms with it now.

Anne - sorry to hear about the chicken pox outbreak - last thing you need at the moment I guess!

Pat

Anne, as Andrew says, chicken pox is no fun and I hope your "middle kid" doesn't have too bad a dose.

They always say better to have chicken pox when you are young because it is a whole lot worse when you are older.

Yes Anne my sight has been getting worse over the past couple of years but I thought it was the KC.

I don't think Mr Tuft didn't think my KC was "typical", rather that it was what it is, i.e mild/moderate.

I just wish I had known sooner that the deterioration in my vision was not the KC

Pat

Thanks for you comments and the "help is at hand "thread was very helpful, I didn't realize decisions may have to be made. Clearly, I need to do some research.

I think the view is, have the cataracts done first, which should provide some help and at least ensure I can still drive, and then see where we go from there. I know it won't necessarily have a major impact on my sight but if it can take me back to where I as 2 or 3 years ago when things did start to go pear shaped, I will be more than happy.