UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi found this wonderful forum after looking for some solutions to my problem. I have KC and was recently fitted with hard contacts ( i have no idea of type etc) the diffeence in my sight is amazing, now my glasses dont seem to work.Ive had some bad days with irritated eyes but looking around the forum i can now see thats fairly common and found a few ideas to tackle this.
I got my lenses through the nhs but since day one ive had problems with my left one as it moves a bit and seems to come out a lot.Well today it came out whilst crossing the road, no chance of finding it this time .This has happened several times with this eye and its extremely fustrating hunting aorund with half vision looking for something so small.A little tip for anyone else who has this problem, if you have an iphone (no pun intended ) use a torch app that uses the cameras led flash, the lens catches the light as you shine it about.

Now i have to try and get a replacement ordered by ringing the hospital which only opens its eye unit on a wednesday and friday.I was due a follow up appointment this week ( i had to cancel due to my training course) after the initial fitment about 5 weeks ago.I explained at the time i would be on a training course for a new job and i cannot have any time off in this period without putting the job at risk.In two weeks time i should have passed all the exams for the new job and be able to attend the follow up appointment.

My questions are will the follow up appointment find a better fit to the left eye that it kept moving about in ? Also i was told there is only one type of lens when i inquired about getting them privately and that it would just cost me more for the same thing im getting on the nhs.Is this true about the lens type and what sorts of costs are they privately ? ( i appreciate thats giving you limted information)
Also im assuming i now have to pay for another lens as i have lost one,is this a common senario ?

Overall i love not having to wear glasses and the incredible difference to my sight whatever the sideeffects are, i can live with those.What i cant live with is costs involved if they keep coming out and getting lost.

Thanks for reading and this forum is a very encouraging and helpful place for those with this condition.

Many thanks for all those who have contributed to create this wealth of information.

Hi Al and welcome,
Great to hear that your new lenses are giving you such good visiion - or would be if you hadn't lost one! I'm sure lots of us here could write a book about the trials and tribulations of lenses that pop out at the worst possible times. The torch technique is one I used to use - but not much good when the lens has gone down the plughole or has just been run over by a car.
Having said that, of course ideally lenses shouldn't just come out. But KC eyes can be difficult to fit and if this is your first pair, there's a very good chance that the fit can be improved for your left eye. With any luck, the hospital might not charge you for a new lens as you're still in the trial fitting stage (though there's no guarantees on that). There are other lens types for apart from the standard rgp lenses but rgps often give the best vision and are the easiest to keep clean and so keep your eyes free from infection, so they tend to be the ones most hospitals use. And smaller hospitals may have a more limited range of types of lenses.
Going privately is likely to be twice as expensive (and more for some of the more specialist lenses) and as I said to someone else today, you do need to make sure that the optometrist is experienced in fitting KC eyes.
All the very best with your exams, and I hope you manage to get a new (and better fitting) lens soon.
Anne

Thanks for the fast response, might try the charm regarding the replacement . The guy who is treating me, via the nhs, also works at a private practice and seems to know his stuff but i just wanted some reassurance i suppose after todays ordeal.I have to sit in a classroom tomorrow with decreased vision which isnt great but thats life and just got to get on with it.
At least there is hope regarding a better fit so thats good news.I will let you know the outcome.

A quick update the new lens arrived today so impressed with the speed of that.Rang the hospital last wednesday and im back on track today.The nhs often gets slated but ive nothing but praise for the treatment ive had from them regarding my eyes and the KC.