A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to this latest news update. Its been a while. Our apologies. Often we barely have time to do those things that seem essential and it can be hard to let you know about the good work the committee is doing on behalf of members and supporters.

Please contact us with any suggestions about how we can best keep in touch with you about KA activities. Also please send us any items of interest you would like to share with other KA members.

We require help on a number of other projects. Contact us if you want to lend a hand.

All the best

Larry Kornhauser


DEMYSTIFYING KERATOCONUS SEMINARS

Corneal crosslinking, other new treatments and how to choose
Professor Doug Coster to talk about keratoconus, research and new treatments
(Wednesday, September 1, 2010)

The Association is delighted to announce that Professor Doug Coster, Head of Ophthalmology at Flinders University, will address a seminar being organized by the Association on Wednesday September 1, 2010 at 7 pm at the Victorian College of Optometry in Carlton VIC.

Professor Coster has published extensively on the condition and has spoken at many medical conferences in Australia and overseas.

Professor Coster will discuss different aspects of keratoconus including current and future research, corneal collagen crosslinking and other new treatments and how patients can assess the suitability of these treatments.

This is a rare opportunity to hear the views of an international authority on keratoconus - put it in your diary now.

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KA MEMBERS FOR OPTOMETRIST TRAINING CLINICS
(Melbourne - September 29 - October 27, 2010)

Once again, Keratoconus Australia, Melbourne optometrist Richard Vojlay and Melbourne University’s Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences are organizing special keratoconus clinics and lectures for final year optometry students.

These clinics are structured to teach students more about keratoconus, the concerns of patients and in particular, how best to fit contact lenses on keratoconic eyes and corneal transplants.

This initiative is vital to the future of all keratoconus patients as there is a serious shortage of optometrists Australia-wide, who are experienced in fitting the complex lenses often required for keratoconus patients.

The clinics and lectures have been extremely well received by the students and the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences since they began four years ago and are unique in Australia.  

Optometry graduates are now moving into the larger keratoconus practices to develop the skills necessary to achieve optimum contact lens fits on keratoconus patients.

To ensure the success of these clinics, the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences requires volunteers with keratoconus and corneal transplants to participate as patients. Ideally, these people would have a mix of mild, moderate and advanced keratoconus.

This year, three keratoconus teaching clinics and two post-graft seminars will be held on Wednesday afternoons on the following dates. Two patients are required for each of the time slots listed below.

Patient Requirements for 2010 Keratoconus Teaching Clinics

A $25 travel allowance will be offered to assist anyone able to attend the clinics, which will be held in Carlton, near the corner of Swanston and Elgin Streets.

We would greatly appreciate if you could participate in at least one of these sessions. All keratoconus patients will benefit in the long term from a growing pool of optometrists experienced in fitting rigid contact lenses.

If you can attend the clinics on one of these days, please contact Richard Vojlay directly on 9882 5666 or by email at richardv@visioncamberwell.com.au to make the necessary arrangements.  

 
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KERATOCONUS AND ALLERGIES

The arrival of spring soon means warmer weather and longer days. But for many people with keratoconus it also heralds the return of allergies: hayfever, asthma and itchy eyes that can make life hell for those of us who wear contact lenses.

Keratoconus can be aggravated by eye rubbing. So if you suffer from itchy eyes, please see your chemist, GP or optometrist to obtain some of the excellent eye drops that can provide relief at this time of year. If you also have hayfever, a general antihistamine tablet may be a better alternative. Chronic sufferers should see an allergist to explore ways of achieving long term relief and control of their allergies and asthma.

For problems with dry eye, consider using a rewetting agent on your contact lenses. Again your contact lens fitter should be able to advise on a strategy for managing the problem.

If you suffer from either condition, it is vital not to rub your eyes and to seek treatment from an experienced keratoconus practitioner to ensure that your contact lenses do not damage your corneas.

Rubbing your eyes may feel good, but it also encourages you to continue and risk further progression in your keratoonus.

Remember: Eye rubbing is a major risk factor in keratoconus.

UPDATE ON CERA CORNEAL CROSSLINKING TRIAL

The Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) in Melbourne has provided the Association with an update on its corneal collagen crosslinking trial. Started in 2006, the CERA trial was the world's first randomized clinical trial of corneal crosslinking and is being followed closely by corneal surgeons and keratoconus patients in Australia and overseas.

Key Findings

Although results varied in the first 3-6 months, after 12 months all patients who received the crosslinking treatment showed stabilization in their keratoconus at their pre-treatment level.

ORGAN DONATION - DONATE LIFE WEBSITE

Keratoconus Australia supports organ donation by distributing brochures for the Australian Organ Donation Register to all new members. We encourage all members to discuss this important issue with friends and family, who can register as organ donors. Should you require more information about organ donation and the register, go to Australian Organ Donor Register.

We also have updated brochures on organ donation which were released in June 2010 as part of a Federal Government awareness campaign. A new Donate Life website has been created which includes a range of facts and figures and resources including a Family Discussion brochure

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ACTION ON CONTACT LENSES

Keratoconus Australia continues to press for action to lower the cost of specialized contact lenses for keratoconus. Details of recent and past efforts in this regard can be found on our Action on Contact Lenses page.

But that could take time. So in the meantime, we suggest members put pressure on their private health funds to recognize the special nature of contact lenses for keratoconus and to provide higher rebates on claims for these specialized and indispensable lenses.

With the assistance of the US Keratoconus Foundation, we have prepared a letter which members can download and print to send along with their contact lens claims to their private health fund. Please send this letter to your health fund EVERY TIME you submit a claim for a rebate on your new contact lenses.
Letter to request a higher rebate from your health fund (in pdf format)

Latest initiatives
In April 2010, KA attended a meeting with Vision2020 Australia and the Optometrist Association of Australia (OAA) to discuss our campaign to lower the cost of contact lenses for keratoonus. OAA gave in principle support to explore options that could assist in lowering the cost of lenses to patients.

Since then, Belinda and Larry have had talks with various representatives of optometrist groups in a bid to advance this issue. We will report back as developments occur.

Other contact lens news
SynergEyes, a new hybrid contact lens for keratoconus, has finally arrived in Australia. These lenses offer a level of comfort to advanced keratoconus patients which is not always achievable with normal rigid gas permeable lenses. They have been used successfully overseas to fit patients who might have otherwise required a corneal transplant. Unfortunately they are very expensive, need to be replaced regularly (every 6-12 months) and can be tricky to fit. Post-graft lenses have not been very successful to date. Information about the lenses can be found here (warning: this is advertising material).

As they need to be ordered from the US, the manufacturer is supplying them only to a limited number of contact lens fitters around Australia. If your contact lens fitter does not have access to these lenses, please contact us and will we try to assist you in finding a local provider.

Mini-scleral lenses are providing another alternative for patients with advanced keratoconus and post-graft patients. Ask your contact lens fitter about them.

The US National Keratoconus Foundation published a detailed article on new contact lenses for keratoconus in its autumn 2009 edition. It also included an article on contact lens intolerance.

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SUPPORT WORK

KA COMMITTEE NOTES

The committee has been busy organizing events, promoting the Association and its work and assisting people with keratoconus and their families in many ways.

Membership

The Association currently has some 1,520 full members.

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ON the NET

Below are links to some articles and research of interest to keratoconus patients. Please send us any information you find so that we can share it with others.

(Disclaimer: Keratoconus Australia Inc takes no responsibility for information found on off-site links. This information is outside the control of the association and it remains the responsibility of internet users to evaluate its accuracy.)

Corneal Collagen Crosslinking

• Current Developments in Keratoconus Research looks at corneal collagen crosslinking.
  
  
• A detailed article on a much misunderstood concept: Contact Lens Intolerance. Although many people think they are "intolerant" and need surgery, this article by two specialists in contact lenses for keratoconus, points to a range of causes and cures.
  
  
• Minimizing Corneal Transplant Rejection. Knowing signs and symptoms can help you detect rejection early and increase chances of success.