My life # 582816544662232 Keratoconus – it’s not pretty to see!

Keratoconus is a degenerative non-inflammatory disorder of the eye in which structural changes within the cornea cause it to thin and change to a more conical shape than its normal gradual curve. Keratoconus can cause substantial distortion of vision, with multiple images, streaking and sensitivity to light all often reported by the patient.. If afflicting both eyes, the deterioration in vision can affect the patient's ability to drive a car or read normal print. In most cases, corrective lenses are effective enough to allow the patient to continue to drive legally and likewise function normally. Further progression of the disease may require surgery including transplantation of the cornea. Despite its uncertainties, Keratoconus can be successfully managed with a variety of clinical and surgical techniques. Between 10% and 25% of cases of Keratoconus will progress to a point where vision correction is no longer possible, thinning of the cornea becomes excessive, or scarring as a result of contact lens wear causes problems of its own, and a corneal transplantation or penetrating keratoplasty becomes required. Keratoconus is the most common grounds for conducting a penetrating keratoplasty, generally accounting for around a quarter of such procedures. from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratoconus My Keratoconus has progressed into my right eye now. It bothered me a few years ago when I was diagnosed with this in my left eye – and I intellectually knew it could/would progress to my right eye as well but last week hearing that I can no longer wear a soft contact lens and no longer wear glasses (to even minimally correct my eyes for evening use only). Now glasses cannot clear my vision. I have no eye correction options except for the Gas Perm Contact lenses – known in the real world as ‘hard contacts’. I love them because I can SEE with them- but they are not as comfortable nor can I wear them for as long as I could my soft lenses. At night when I used to put my glasses on for TV – I can no longer do that. I also noticed some Ghosting, some multiple images (not as bad as photo) and Halos (why I don't like to drive at night - many with myopia have these though!)(see photos) When I read – The top half of the words seem darker and I have a hard time telling certain letters apart – so I use large print books, cheater reading glasses and may need a magnifying glass soon. All in all not a great addition to my March stress. I will be going to the eye dr to get my new contacts fitted – not as easy as just getting my old softies. I liken it to not being able to wear ‘off the rack’ contacts – they now have to be ‘tailored’ specifically to my messed up corneas. Lucky me!

My Life March 2008 # 54689146579853

Hello! March was an exciting and crazy month for us! First – March is full of birthdays! Both my father & sister-in law have early March birthdays (and I almost always mix them up – luckily they are in the same week so it is OK). My father has a mid-March birthday and Ben has an end of March Birthday. This March Ben wanted a friend birthday party so he invited five friends for an over night and snow tubing day. He forgot to let me know that he had done this – so when his friends called for information – I was very surprised. Both Ken and I were not happy – but together with Ben and a calendar – decided that the first weekend in March WOULD be the best for his party. So we called everyone and got tickets for tubing and the sleepover was ON! Five boys are very different from Four girls. Let me just say I was very tired. We had a great time tubing and most importantly – Ben was thrilled. Then I flew off to California – Anaheim – for a work Expo – where for four days strait we gave out samples and sold sold sold things! It is always great to see my team in person and to see my buyers! However – it is exhausting – like being a waitress again. Feet, Back and headaches – lots of coffee, water and ibuprofen helped a lot! YUCK! When I got home it took a few days to adjust back to Eastern Time – each year it gets harder to readjust! Then it was time for Ben’s play – Willy Wonka Jr – He had been practicing for over three months and had three shows- 3/27 & 3/28 & 3/29 – Oh yea – forgot to mention I helped out on the show behind the scenes so while all this was going on I was volunteering at the school being a back stage manager – trying to keep 55 middle school students quiet and focused – Not easy – but luckily they really were great kids and wanted to do a good job! (photo of Ben & friend after the high school teaser for the show- which I had to miss since I was on a business trip). With March almost over – I ended up getting sick – too much stress stress stress - - Oh yea – and work was nutty. I had to spend a week putting orders in and all the while not having any idea of my performance work-wise other than a general feeling that I was not doing well at all….. STRESS – it was the straw that broke me – literally – I had a day I just couldn’t function. I just stayed home in bed. I’m still struggling a bit with everyday functioning – my hair is thinning and I have been told that I look like I am losing weight – (the last time I lost weight for stress was my divorce – that’s how bad things are here!) Well – that’s all for March – I’ve got to work on my April post next – this will address another stressor in my life – MY EYES! PEACE. JESS