UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi All

I was Diagnosed with KC in october, and have this week been fitted with RGP lenses that have made my vision considerably crisper!! My eyes have been watering the last few days getting used to the hard lenses but are finally settling down. This forum and the newsletters I have received from the group have been a great help in my understanding of KC, so many thanks for that!,

The main frustration I have experienced is the lenth of time it has taken on the NHS to have my 3 consultations to get my lenses fitted. With the amount of high street opticians there are, do I have to use the NHS? Would a high street optician be able to fit RGP lenses? And if they can, is it mainly the price that is prohibitive?

Many Thanks

Hi Jay,

Yes, it can be frustrating how long it takes to get a pair of contact lenses sorted. But don't forget fitting keratoconus is rarely straightforward so it does take time.

No, you don't have to use the NHS for your contact lenses, but you need to see someone who is an expert in fitting in keratoconus as most High Street opticians only fit soft lenses these days.

There is a list of opticians who fit KC on this site:

http://www.keratoconus-group.org.uk/optoms/index.php

Some of these opticians may take NHS referrals (where you would pay the NHS price) others would charge you significantly more.

Personally I was fitted privately for a few years in the early nineties by someone who had a real interest in challenging contact lens fittings, it was only when I moved house and was unable to find someone to fit my lenses that I turned to the NHS. If there is someone who is local to you then it might be worth going elsewhere - but if you are happy with your lenses the wait between appointments may well be worth it.

Lia