UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi there, I am a KC sufferer, quite advanced in one eye and very mild on the other. My bad eye requires a rgp lens that I don't wear and my good eye is corrected by my specs.

I have recently ordered some prescription sunglasses for sports and have ordered polarized lenses in them to help with the sun and its reflections.

My question is this... The environment I find most difficult is the shopping center or supermarket because I just seem to get lots of glare which seems to reduce the sharpness of my vision with my specs on (even though they have anti-reflective coating). My prescription has changed slightly and so my specs need updating ......... Would polarized lenses help me on this type of environment or not make much difference? I always seem to see better if I shield my eyes with my hand, a bit like you do when peering towards the sun!

Thanks for any help anyone might give!

I wonder whether you are coming to the time when you could be thinking about moving from glasses to contact lenses?

All the best

Andrew

Polarised lenses will make a positive difference to your vision.

First to explain what polarisation is: Light is transmitted in the form of waves (and particles too but that is for another discussion!) and your eyes normally receive light which has a lot of jumbled up waves, due to reflections of various surfaces. This can become quite confusing to the eye and is the direct cause of glare.

A Polarising substance (a natural substance is calcite) only allows light through it that has a wavelength in a certain direction and cuts out all the jumbled wavelengths. Thus these lenses are excellent for fishermen as they remove all the reflective glare from the surface of water, allowing the person to see through into the water's depths.

As someone with KC has a cornea that distorts light that goes through it, normal glare effects are magnified. therefore these lenses will help a good deal. For the visual effects of polarisation, look at the polaroid site: http://www.polaroideyewear.com/en/PolaroidPolarization/Polarization.aspx

Lynn