Keratoconus and headaches?

[rsnr]

Hi there. I'm 23 and a month ago I was diagnosed wit an initial stage of keratoconus. As i had to leave for the UK (i live in Bulgaria) to do my master's degree, they told me that ther's no time enough to do a crosslinking procedure, although it was the best solution at this stage. So basically my question is, is it possible for the keratoconus, and the related vision impairment to cause me headaches? I ve been having them for the last week, starting in the morning or arround lunchtime, and getting worse during the day. Another question that I have is if someone knows how fast does keratoconus progress, because the earliest I can get a crosslinking procedure is next summer, and I am affradi that it might be too late. The vision in my right eye is very impaired and I have the feeling that the left one is doing all the work. please let me know of your experiences and opinions.

Martin

[Andrew MacLean]

Martin

Welcome to the forum.

There are a couple of questions in your mail, and I'll try to answer them, each in turn.

1 Yes, you may be getting headaches as a result of your KC, as your eye tries to focus, this puts stain on your muscles and can lead to tension and a headache. You may need stronger glasses or contact lenses.

2 I am afraid that the answer to your question about the progression of KC is that this varies from person to person. For many (perhaps even most) people with KC the condition will stabilize and never progress beyond the point where it can be managed by glasses or contact lenses. For others, it can progress extremely quickly. For some, even after many years of stability, KC can suddenly progress.

All the best with your Masters in the UK. At which University will you study?

I am afraid that Crosslinking is not nearly so widely available in the UK as it is in other parts of Europe.

Andrew

[rsnr]

Martin

Welcome to the forum.

There are a couple of questions in your mail, and I'll try to answer them, each in turn.

1 Yes, you may be getting headaches as a result of your KC, as your eye tries to focus, this puts stain on your muscles and can lead to tension and a headache. You may need stronger glasses or contact lenses.

2 I am afraid that the answer to your question about the progression of KC is that this varies from person to person. For many (perhaps even most) people with KC the condition will stabilize and never progress beyond the point where it can be managed by glasses or contact lenses. For others, it can progress extremely quickly. For some, even after many years of stability, KC can suddenly progress.

All the best with your Masters in the UK. At which University will you study?

I am afraid that Crosslinking is not nearly so widely available in the UK as it is in other parts of Europe.

Andrew

Hi Andrew. Thank you very much for your response. Concerning the glasses, the doctor said that there is no point in changing them as they couldn't alter my vision much. He said that I should start using contact lenses, but again there was no time for adjusting them and he said that it's not a problem because the KC is in an early stage and we can make another examination during the winter and then decide. I am wearing glasses for three years know as I had astegmatism, which may have been an initial symptom of the KC. Concerning the Crosslinking, I went to the best eye clinic in my city, which is the third biggest in Bulgaria, and they told me that they have been doing the procedure for three years now and it certainly shows improvements. So maybe next summer I am planning to have it done to me, may be on the right eye initally as it is a bit more advanced.

I will be doing my degree at the University of York - Management School.

[GarethB]

Is the optom you have seen in the UK?

KC may be the cause of the headaches or it could be something else.

I have been having problems with lenses recently and thought it miht be them (it still could be) but we have also found I have an allergy to soemthing and treating those symptoms have made lenses bearable again.

It may well be a good idea to consult a GP and/or optom in York.

You may even be putting yourself under pressure doing your masters, I have had a load at work from the local Uni doing some work and most of them were complaining of headaches and when we looked into it, they were not only working long hours in the department but then working long hours writting up their work, thesis and doing further literature searches in the library. We showed that students un used to a working environment in industry were doing 20 hours a day which expalined after the first two weeks they were having problems. 10 out of 10 for commitment, but we had to make them back off a bit because their tierdness were leading to mistakes which may have cost them an MSc in adition to being very detremental to their health.

Could be worth looking at college work life in addition to the possible KC affects.

[Andrew MacLean]

The University of York has a very good medical centre. Whenever you arrive, go along and register with the doctors there. When you register, tell them that you have KC and ask for a referral to the local ophthalmology department. The doctors there will be able to put you in touch with an optometrist who is used to fitting KC eyes.

This process can take some time, so when you register with the health centre at York U, ask if they can refer you to a local optometrist who may be skilled at fitting lenses to KC eyes.

I think that as an EU citizen you are entitled to the same free healthcare in the UK as a UK citizen. Am I right?

Andrew

[rsnr]

Well Andrew, I did my BSc in Greece, and there I had free medical care so I think that it should be different here. I have already arrived at York and will make contact with the health services of the Uni these days. Thank you for the useful advice. Apart from that, I also believe that the long hours of reading that are to come may make me dizzy and substantially reinforce the KC symptoms but I will have to find a way to cope with it because I'm not risking losing my MSc

[Andrew MacLean]

All the best. I was pretty sure that you would have equal access to the NHS, but just wanted to check.

Try not to rub your eyes. When my eyes get tired, I use hypermelose to refresh them without rubbing!

All the best

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

Hallo, and welcome! - to the group and the UK.
Several of my friends have mentioned having headaches recently - we think it may be the change in weather. I have too -but I think that's the eyedrops (which is another thread entirely).
Yours could be caused by struggling to see - and in particular to read - when your vision has become less than perfect. Hope you can get fitted with contacts that give good vision.
I can only echo a previous post - the rate of progression can vary enormously.
Best wishes with the MSc - what area are you going to be working in?
Rosemary

[GarethB]

rsnr; Visit the homepage and download the students leaflet, it has all sorts of info to help students of all ages and is worth sharing with your tutors too. It is in their best interest too, helping you get your MSc.

Rosemary, I find to reduce side effects of eye drops is once the drop is in the eye just press your finger gently in the corner of the eye by the nose. This prevents the drops draining down the tear duct and into your throat so the excess runs down your cheek instead.

This was suggested by one of the guest speakers in london, but I forget which who had gone through the graft process themselves and Prof Buckley seconded it as a good idea.

[rosemary johnson]

Hi Gareth!
Not really germaine to this thread... but yes, I do that. Got recommended by one of my new consultant's deputies.
It helps, a bit, too.
Current problem is the eye drops are drying - that's their purpose - and I have problems with getting dehydrated at best of times. Long story...... THey also make the eye red and itchy. Also long story. Elsewhere.
Good idea re. student/college info sheet.
Also: if there's a student welfare office, or disabled students support office, suggest contacting them too. They may be able to help with things like computers with large screens, clear/magnified screens, speech output software, etc, or magnifying devices if they would help. And more. That is, resources that the University have available if you know to ask for them.
Rosemary