Crosslinking

[Anthony25]

Hi,
I was told I had keratoconus quite some time ago. I have coped without any aid as one eye is in quite quite
Good condition. Im very eager to join the fire service though and I'm wondering just how much improvement you get from crosslinking. Also how would I go about making moves to have it done and is it the best option? I'm so sorry if I'm asking questions that have been asked? Any help would be much apreciated. It's been a dream to join the fire service and I'd given up any hope as I was told there was no way to improve my eye sight. Only now when I've done my own research I've discovered crosslinking. So I've got a little hope now of reaching my goal. Thanks again anyone

Anthony

[Andrew MacLean]

Hello Anthony and welcome to the forum.

I have moved your post to the General Discussion Forum, where I think it may attract more attention, and therefore more informed responses.

All the best with your ambition to join the Fire Service. I am not sure that anyone here will be in a position to offer any definitive answer to your questions about the prognosis after cross linking; as far as I know the procedure does not come with any guarantee of improved vision, but it may help to provide a better surface on which a contact lens can be fitted.

Others will have more to say than I on this subject; please stay in touch, let us know what you decide and how things go.

Every good wish.

Andrew

[harker]

Crosslinking probably wont improve your vision. And if it does it won't be by much.

It's primarily a method of stopping the vision getting worse.

[dalbeath]

I had crosslinking done a year ago and although it did not improve my unaided vision much it did flatten the shape of my cornea which made it much easier to fit contact lenses so my vision with contacts and glasses was greatly improved.

But I think it's very individual how much it changes your vision.

Good luck

[RyanDennett0]

Hi Anthony,

I had cross linking done around 18 months ago and have noticed an improvement in the vision of my left eye, before I was unable to read un aided but am now able to read at am arm's length. My right eye has improved but only with contact lenses and my specialist has advised that the cross linking does continue to improve the shape of the cornea, although the longer term effects are not known clearly and the procedure may need to be repeated.

To be honest, the earlier you have had KC diagnosed the better.

[harker]

Anthony, I think a little bit more information is needed.

Firstly, does the fire service require 20/20 uncorrected vision i.e are you allowed glasses or contact lenses?

Secondly, you say that you're coping with no aids in your bio, yet clearly your vision is sub-par else you wouldn't be looking for improvement.Have you ever tried rigid contact lenses? Or, indeed any specialist lenses at all for KC? They might not get you into the fire service, but they could easily improve your quality of life.

[Lynn White]

Anthony,

To answer your question, we would need to know your unaided vision and your corrected vision for both eyes.

Cross linking can improve vision but usually only by a line or so. The important thing about being a fireman is that you can cope without glasses in a hazardous situation. One eye can be worse than the other but there are still minimum requirements.

Lynn

[dineshk]

Hi Everyone,

I feel one important question abt crosslinking is

Dose crosslinking halt disease immediately ?
remember its progressing , and if you r in mid 20s it getting worse every 6months

so after CXL, few months to clear the blur and may be same amt of time to halt disease