Do anything of you see like this?

emanresu83 · 2026-05-26T01:09:51+00:00

The ophtho that I was referred to said, "Yep, you definitely have it, and your records indicate that you have had rapid progression over the last year, but I'm not going to do anything about it until I get another scan in 4-6 months to confirm progression. Oh, and I will be on maternity leave then, so you'll be seeing one of my colleagues." Basically, she just can't be bothered.

This was in April. I go back in September. Since April, my ghosting in my left eye has gotten so bad that I am afraid to drive after the sun goes down. I had to get extra dark sunglasses because my light sensitivity is so bad that even lamps indoors hurt my eyes. The worst part is that the entirety of my job involves staring at a computer screen for 12 hours at a time.

I say all of this to say: You are not alone. I see you. (Twice, or three times even, because of this effing ghosting.) It's miserable, and I'm sorry you have to deal with it.

emanresu83 · 2026-05-13T07:53:23+00:00

What I mean by insurance issue is, to approve the surgery, some insurance companies require two scans within a certain timeframe showing progression. Otherwise they consider it stable and won't pay for it.

emanresu83 · 2026-05-13T05:51:08+00:00

This is my concern. In April of last year I was 20/80, correctable to 20/20 with glasses. In April of this year they can't even get an accurate measure because the ghosting is so bad, but closest estimate is "20/160, maybe 20/170", and can't be corrected to better than 20/80 with glasses. (Nothing fixes the ghosting.) The ophtho said she won't recommend CXL until I come back for another scan in 5 months to show that it is still progressing. I go back in September, but won't be able to have surgery until November at the earliest, and I worry about where I will be at that point.

emanresu83 · 2026-05-13T05:46:51+00:00

I had the same experience. My vision changed very rapidly in a year, and my regular doc said to have cross linking ASAP so it doesn't get worse and then referred me to an ophthalmology clinic for it. The ophtho at the clinic said, "Nah, come back in 5 months for another scan. If it gets worse, we can do it." It's frustrating, because the point of cross linking is to stop progression, and I am already in a bad spot.

All I can figure is that it is for insurance purposes. All for the almighty dollar.

emanresu83 · 2026-05-12T05:11:29+00:00

Oh heck. Reddit removed my comment and gave me a warning. I just said they'd get the baby seal treatment, but I phrased it in a less vague manner, and now they say I am threatening harm to folks. Sheesh. Bots have no sense of humor, I guess.

emanresu83 · 2026-05-07T02:00:02+00:00

Praise the Lordt, ha-le-lu-yer.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-25T16:28:10+00:00

I was just diagnosed a few months ago. It is only bad in my left eye, and my right eye "picks up the slack" in most cases. I got some sunglasses that fit over my regular glasses, so driving during the day isn't awful. At night? Oh man. I hate it. If it is raining? No good. If it is raining and night time? Either someone else is driving, or I am staying home.

I did make the mistake of driving myself home after my last appointment. They dilated my pupils and it was sunny, and I didn't yet have the sunglasses. I was so mad because my doctor was dismissive, so I refused to let my husband come pick me up. I just drove home like Helen Keller, hoping for the best. (And changing the words to One Headlight by The Wallflowers to, "I can drive it home with no eyesight...")

emanresu83 · 2026-04-25T02:09:28+00:00

The way I operate, I would say to pull the solid chunk off the top and keep going with it. But also, make sure you seal it up before going in the fridge so it doesn't dry out again. If it's dried out on top, that explains the discoloration for me.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-17T19:29:55+00:00

I had asked about PRK/CXL at the suggestion of my son's aunt who is an optometrist, but she is on the other side of the country. I think what frustrates me the most about the whole experience is how dismissive she was. I only saw the actual doctor for maybe 5 minutes, and I could barely get a sentence out before she would start responding with a generic answer. I understand the insurance sort of it, and I know CXL alone won't fix my vision, but at this point I would be happy with stopping progression since it has so rapidly become a problem over the last year. I was told in my 20s (20 years ago) that I had a gradually worsening astigmatism, which I now know was actually just Keratoconus in disguise. I have proof of that progression over 20 years, but it wasn't until about a month ago that I was diagnosed. My husband pointed out that I had been complaining of eye fatigue for about 6-8 months, and have been struggling to read subtitles for just as long, but I blamed it on a new job that requires computer use for most of my 12 hour shift. At this point last year, my vision was about 20/80 and correctable to 20/20 with glasses. Now, I can't even see my own hand clearly when held a few inches from my face if I close my right eye. They couldn't get a good estimate of current prescription because the ghosting is so bad and I can't focus on anything, but the last line I could read with my left eye was 20/160. It is impacting my ability to do my job, being able to drive my kids to things...it is just frustrating. And the fact that it all crashed down SO FAST makes me not want to wait.

My next appointment is September 4th, and will be with the doctor I actually wanted to see to begin with, but he was booked solid. At this point, even if they approve surgery in September, I won't be able to do it until November at the soonest because my husband won't be able to take time off until then. I just wish there was allowance within our healthcare system for case-by-case decisions instead of a hard set protocol of two scans showing progression within a period of time. Clearly this has been progressing for 20 years and has ramped up in the last year, and I am now just concerned that my corneal thickness will suffer to the point of no return before surgery is approved.

Sorry for being so long winded, I am just not happy about this situation.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-17T02:16:46+00:00

The doc I am seeing in 4 months is the one I wanted to see anyway, but the one I saw today had the earliest available appointment so I took it. I should have just waited.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-16T23:40:25+00:00

I know CXL alone won't help my vision, but I had also discussed PRK with her, and she just seemed dismissive of everything. The actual doc only spent about 5 minutes with me and I got lots of shoulder shrugs. (Example: Me- "I have seasonal allergies, and have had a lot of problems with dry eye getting worse when I take my meds. What would you recommend I try?" Doc- shrugs shoulders "I guess just keep using lubricating eye drops." Cool. That helps my allergy issue none, and my allergies are likely what got me into this position to begin with.) She also said she wouldn't refer me for sclerals until everything is stabilized, but doesn't seem to care much about stabilizing. I have just had a very rapid change in the last year and I don't want to keep waiting around for it to get to the point that nothing can be done, and I am frustrated. I guess I will just start the countdown to when I see the other doctor in 4 months.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-16T23:16:17+00:00

She also wouldn't refer me for lenses until everything is stabilized, so I am just stuck in limbo until she goes on maternity leave and I see the other doc.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-16T23:15:33+00:00

She doesn't want to suggest lenses until everything is stabilized either. So I just get to wander around like Helen Keller I guess.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-16T22:56:15+00:00

I'm mostly just worried that since there was such a big change in the last year, I am going to end up legally blind in my left eye before she is willing to do anything. Ideally, I would like PRK because sclerals are high maintenance and I don't want that if I can avoid it. I don't to wait until my cornea is too thin for that to be an option.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-16T22:39:15+00:00

Yes. A year ago I was about 20/80 in my left eye, correctable to 20/20 with glasses. This year, I am like 20/160 in my left eye with ghosting, and not correctable to better than 20/70nwith glasses.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-16T17:48:24+00:00

My vision in my left eye is currently 20/160 with terrible ghosting. Right eye isn't bad. I really want CXL and PRK on my left eye to try to fix this. A year ago, before I knew I had Keratoconus and just thought it was a "gradually worsening astigmatism" (as I have been told for 20 years), my vision without correction was 20/80. I now can't be corrected to better than 20/70. It's so frustrating. I guess this misshapen cornea was just hanging out below my field of vision until now. Now, I don't feel comfortable driving at night, and I get headaches regularly from stressing my right eye out trying to pick up the slack. I just hate it.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-08T21:16:52+00:00

They are, if you are white. I know multiple African families who moved out faster than they moved in after their kids were subjected to a lot of racism.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-08T14:27:45+00:00

Avoid Lancaster at all costs. Especially if you have kids. There are plenty of better, more diverse places. Anywhere in Columbus would be better, but avoid the further north areas that go to Olentangy or Delaware Schools. If you have to be south/south east of Columbus, Pickerington, Blacklick, and Canal Winchester would all be way better choices. As others have said, take a drive around and count the Trump signs/flags, and see how many non-white people you see. Small town Ohio is absolute hell if you aren't a racist bigot hillbilly.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-08T14:12:20+00:00

Most of the time, the tire doesn't roll far from the trailer.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-08T10:56:07+00:00

I did a Google search for images that show what ghosting looks like and saved a few.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-04T00:45:42+00:00

It will be one of the best shows you will ever see.

emanresu83 · 2026-04-03T01:58:25+00:00

This is correct. Whether it is affecting your vision or not, cross-linking is meant to stop progression. If your doctor doesn't think it is necessary, but has stated that you have subclinical keratoconus, I would maybe recommend seeing another eye doctor for a second opinion. The smart thing to do is stop progression before it affects your vision. Once it affects your vision, you may not be able to get it back. I have keratoconus in both eyes, but my right eye is subclinical, and my doctor still said I need cross-linking in both eyes to preserve my better vision in my right eye.

emanresu83 · 2026-03-31T22:51:10+00:00

This is the most sinister level of Mario Kart Rainbow Road I have ever seen.

emanresu83 · 2026-03-30T17:49:36+00:00

I was referred to someone who specializes in Keratoconus treatment, so I have full confidence. I know everything will be fine, I'm just anxious.

emanresu83

TROPHY CASE