Diving with keratoconus

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aldijo2

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Messages
35
Reaction score
4
Location
Puerto Rico
# of dives
500 - 999
I have been diving for approximately 20 years. I have had keratoconus for the same amount of time. I have never had problems with diving with keratoconus throughout the years, and luckily have never lost a contact.As my condition progresses I have had some issues. I use rigid gas-permeable contact lenses at the moment, never lost a lens while diving, but have experienced lens position shift on my eye causing discomfort, and poor vision. I have been thinking about getting a prescription diving mask, but I'm hesitant because I do not see well with regular eyeglasses, I only see well with contacts. Any thought or experiences or suggestions?
 
Keratoconus OU with right cornea transplant x20yrs. . .

Astigmatism is so steep that conventional glasses cannot correct to give normal visual acuity --I'm stuck with wearing hard GP contact lenses, usually with soft lens "piggybacks" as well to cushion my corneas from chronic abrasions caused by the hard lenses.

I'm having changes in both corneas as well and am trying larger GP's/semi-scleral hard lenses, going thru some fit iterations right now.

My only advice is to get a low volume mask with a nose purge valve, so you can clear your mask and still retain a lens if one pops out inadvertently (i.e. if you had one pop out and had to clear the mask conventionally, you would most likely lose that expensive GP lens).

Hang in there, good luck & good diving!
 
I'm down and out indefinitely with Corneal Hydrops OS . . .

Had to cancel trip to Singapore/South China Sea this 06 to 13 May;

Cocos Island Trip in July now in jeopardy. . .

Worst case scenario would be left eye corneal scarring requiring transplant.

(First cervical disc/pinched nerve problems . . .now this!!!
Might be in dry-dock awhile. . .:( )
 
Have you consider intacs surgery or Corneal Collagen Crosslinking(developed in Europe in the late 1990's) which the FDA suppose to approve by the end of this year.
 
Cross-linking was discussed as a possible treatment for the steepening/thinning curvature of my left cornea --it would've been a $2k-$3k out-of-pocket procedure since it is not currently FDA approved and therefore not covered by any primary health insurance yet.

Unfortunately, it would have done nothing to prevent the present disorder to my left eye --Corneal Hydrops.

I have profound visual impairment --essentially blind with only a "white blur" seen from my left eye. Ophthalmologist/Corneal Specialist wants to wait at least three months time for the occluding fluid to drain and assess the corneal scarring: Worst case would be full thickness corneal transplant from a cadaver donor, with another five to nine months of healing & monitoring for graft rejection.
 
Sorry to review this topic sunk long time ago...I really need help&suggestions.
I was told that I had keratoconus when I was 18 or 19. Now I'm 26 and find myself being interested in diving.
I have only used glasses for those years, and no idea how my right eye is going on now.
I am just wondering that if I go diving only in tropical area once or twice(less than 10 days/ 30dives) annually without RGP under the water...........does it matter or should I contact my oculist?

Thank U guys very much, I really like feeling free under the water and also worried about my eye condition.
 
I had corneal grafts 30 years ago but if I could have seen with glasses I would have dove with a prescription mask. I wear RGP's now because it is the only way I can get vision.
 
I am getting fitted to wear "Ampleye" RGP Scleral lenses from Art Optical. I called DAN and asked about diving with them and DAN said there is no reason I can't dive with any RGP Scleral lens. They are so large there is virtually no chance of them coming out with a flooded mask.

I'll be diving with them in a month (mid-August 2016), so feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

I am excited at the prospect of being able to dive and actually see well!
 

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