On November 10th we celebrate World KC Day, a national awareness day sponsored by the National Keratoconus Foundation. This day is dedicated to raise awareness about keratoconus (KC), as well as to support and advocate for those living with KC.
Keratoconus, often abbreviated to “KC”, is a non-inflammatory eye condition in which the normally round dome-shaped cornea progressively thins causing a cone-like bulge to develop. This results in significant visual impairment.
Who is the National Keratoconus Foundation?
The National Keratoconus Foundation (NKCF) is an educational program of The Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at UC Irvine.
The publication and circulation of literature and seminars.
Through the organization of keratoconus patients and eye care professionals on a local level for the purpose of mutual dialog and support.
Raising funds to support scientific research into the causes, treatment and possible cure of keratoconus.
Visit our website at www.nkcf.org for more information.
Hello and let me introduce myself. I am a 56 year old woman who was diagnosed with Kerataconus back in 1975. My optometrist was quick to send me to the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ontario Canada and a wonderful Ophthalmologist named Dr. Callendar. I was fitted with hard lenses but the prognosis back then, was a little scary. We were told that I could lose my sight and at 15, it didn’t really sink in. The adults were worried but as a teenager I wasn’t. **Read Janes touching story in Humans of Keratoconus.
I think this is a pretty good example of the early stages of Keratoconus!
Dr. Anita Miedziak from the Princeton Eye group with a patient.
still wearing Rose k lenses.
I was diagnosed with keratoconus when I was 29 the year was 2009 and I thought it was the end of the world! At the time the Doctor I was seeing gave me little to no hope, said there was no cure and I would eventually lose most if not all my vision. I was only 29 not married no kids and I was practically going blind…It was hard but i had vome to terms with it tnis was my life. I decided to enjoy the little vision I did have for whatever time I would have it. Time went on vision got worse and grew into a depression. My days consisted of going to work and coming home to sleep….gained weight and continued to get depressed. Thankfully I have a great group of friends and family who didn’t let me give up, and have supported me every step of the way! One of my friends fathers is part of the Lions Club of Wolcott, Connecticut, she told him my story. Her father sent out a mass email to other Lions Club members….within minutes I had an appointment at Yale New Haven Eye Center. I saw 2 different Doctors and they saw me at no charge. Although my Keratoconus is advance and at some point I will need corneal transplant, right now my vision is pretty stable with contacts. I have been trough a few different pairs as my vision has change and I also had Acute Hydrops, i could not be any happier with my vision and Yale Eye Center. Keratoconus is a part me but it no longer defines me nor hinders me! There is hope. The picture I have attached is from 2014 when I had Acute Hydrops. The road to recovery from it has been long as I still have a lot of scarring but i did gain most of my vision back.
I’ve been diagnosed with bilateral KC for 20 years now while in basic training. I’ve been through a gamut of GP hard lenses over the years in Order to keep me working as a nurse. This picture is me this morning after 2 sixteen hour shift. It’s a killer on the eyes, but I’m thankful that I can still practice safely doing what I love. Thanks to having a very close ophthalmic relationship with my optometrist. Let’s keep education and research going to improve our quality of life.
I’ve been KCer since 1978 and have had transplants to both eyes. I bless the souls of my two cornea donors every day!
7 years since diagnosis! In the past few years, the online KC community has changed my life for the better and provided me with so much support. KC is a relatively rare disease, so the community really comes together to support each other and share resources about treatment, insurance and more.
I’m a firefighter in Providence,RI. I think that I might be a good representative to firefighters that have KC. I have the disease and I still perform my job at a very high level as a technical rescue specialist. I could have retired with a disability pension since I’m legally blind in my right eye, but that wasn’t acceptable to me. *read Dan’s incredible rescue story in Humans of Keratoconus.
Living with kc and smile. Thanks Lord. Kc grade 3 and 4 in my two eyes .
Diagnosed 1998 no surgery needed so far. Still wear RGP lenses.
without my opticians patience & determination I wouldn’t have been able to focus on my son’s being born, my wife on my wedding day, keep my job, drive, watch t.v…. the list is endless, I owe him my life! I remember these priceless things when I’m having bad lens days, sensitive to sun light, tears streaming down my face, dry irritation, it’s these moments I remember I have a ball ache of a disease that troubles other worse than me. I think about the people with no sight, no lens correction ability and I just crack on with life, just grateful that I haven’t got it as bad as those who have it worse than me, never thinking about those with perfect sight and no bad lens days!
Hi, I’m Thai. I have known that I have keratoconus on both eyes for 15 years. I’m using a ferrara ring in my left eye but got transplanted cornea on my right eye.