UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi
First of all sorry if i have posted in the wrong place as im new to this,

Im 24 and been diagnosed with KC, luckily the hospital have managed to correct my vision using rigid lenses. I have had the lenses for around 3 months now and im finding that im just about getting use to them. The only problem im having is that im finding the lenses are drying out causing them to fall out. Recently I lost one of the lenses and I get the feeling having these lenses are not going to be cheap!!! does anyone know of any contact lens insurance or is there any help out there to fund these lenses as I cannot afford to keep replacing them. Thank you for any info, stu

Hi Stu and welcome to the forum!
If you're getting your lenses through a hospital eye clinic, then you should be getting them at the NHS rate of around £51 per lens. That covers any changes of prescription in a 12 month period. Unfortunately, it doesn't cover lost lenses even though the most common reason for losing a lens is that it just drops out because our KC eyes are such a peculiar shape to fit. You should be able to get spare lenses from the hospital for the NHS charge.
But if your lens is dropping out because the eye is drying out, the answer might be to try lubricating drops such as Refresh Contacts or Blink Contacts. You can put those in while your lenses are in the eye - the trick is to put in the drops BEFORE your eyes dry out too much!
Or they might be dropping out because the fit is still not ideal - something to talk to your optometrist about when you next go.
Good luck
Anne

Thanks for your reply anne much appreciated, i'll mention it when i go next.

Some hospitals do replace lenses free of charge if they are lost or broken. It is only if it happens regualrly that they start to aske questions.

I use preservative free Systane by Alcon, it is slightly more viscous than the others and I find for me it gives longer lens wear. The others just give me short term releif of less than an hour.

Try them for a coupe of weeks to give everything a chance to settle before moving to the next one. It can be a bit of trial and error. it too over six months for me to find drops that seemed to help. I am now on antihistamines too which are helping preventing my eyes drying out and the other thing to remember is to drink plenty of water. For me the first signs of slight dehydration is uncomfortable contact lenses.

GarethB wrote:Some hospitals do replace lenses free of charge if they are lost or broken. It is only if it happens regualrly that they start to aske questions.

I use preservative free Systane by Alcon, it is slightly more viscous than the others and I find for me it gives longer lens wear. The others just give me short term releif of less than an hour.

Try them for a coupe of weeks to give everything a chance to settle before moving to the next one. It can be a bit of trial and error. it too over six months for me to find drops that seemed to help. I am now on antihistamines too which are helping preventing my eyes drying out and the other thing to remember is to drink plenty of water. For me the first signs of slight dehydration is uncomfortable contact lenses.

thanks for the advice, really appreciate it. im going to the hospital again next week so im going to see what they say, im hoping they will let me off the charge, just seems a bit harsh when they can just "pop out" of there own accord and then ive got to pay for another lens.

I checked my home insurance and my lenses are covered by that, a bit like a camera or mobile phone would be.

My wife has looked in to contact lens insurance and just out of cureosity she mentioned KC and the premium shot up! This was not confined to one insurer, unfortunatly can not recall the prices but I think it was more than the cost of a lens through the NHS.