New to the board

[Diz-Astro]

Hi everybody,

I have had KC for roughly 8 years, and have to wear hard lenses all the time, because i can't see at all without them. I don't enjoy wearing lenses one bit, and would love an alternative. Occasionally (roughly twice a week) a lens will become misplaced and wedge itself in the corner of my eye; When this happens i become really scared as my vision becomes really bad and i start to panic. I also suffer from bad anxiety and and receive medication and treatment for it, but when i lose my sight when i'm out and about in the city centre it will often result in a panic attack.


Does anybody have any advice or suggestions?

[Andrew MacLean]

Diz

Welcome to the forum. If your lens is unstable on your eye, it may not be fitting properly; in your place I'd go to my optometrist and explain what is happening.

It may be that a better-fitting lens will be easier to wear and give you better wear time and vision.

Every good wish

Andrew

[Diz-Astro]

I go to Cameron Optometry of Edinburgh, who have a very good reputation; but the problem has been occurring continuously since i was diagnosed, and had my first fit. I have an out-patients appointment tomorrow at the Princess Alexandra Eye pavilion. Should i speak to them about a possible alternative to lenses? I really have had enough of lenses

[Andrew MacLean]

Your optometrist has a very good reputation indeed, and I still think that it would be very much worth while telling him what is happening with your lenses. Fitting a contact lens to an eye with keratoconus is as much an art as a science; trading fit against comfort and stability. If your lens moves off the front of your eye as often as it does, then it would be worth giving the optometrist a change to get it right.

That said, there would be no harm done in telling your ophthalmologist at the eye pavilion about your experience with lenses.

Every good wish

Andrew

[Diz-Astro]

Just back from the eye pavilion...

I have advanced stage Keratoconus in my right eye and it's badly scarred. The Doc asked me whether i would consider a cornea transplant, and i thought well I can hardly see out my right, so not got much to lose. Anyway, the doctor is going to consult another doctor, and get back to me in a few days. I don't know if i'm happy about this news or terrified...

[Andrew MacLean]

Diz-Astro

I was just like you: I didn't know whether it was good news or bad when they started to talk again about a graft. My experience is that it turned out to be good news.

Every good wish

Andrew

[Diz-Astro]

Andrew,

How long is the healing process etc? Was there a marked improvement in your vision straight away or is a gradual thing?

[Andrew MacLean]

It took my first graft nearly two years before I had useful sight in that eye, but I now have better than 6/6. Before my graft my sight had deteriorated to less than 6/60. I did, of course, notice improvements at earlier stages, but my vision had not stabilized, so there was no practical purpose to be served by having glasses prescribed this week since the week following my prescription would have changed.

Andrew