Recently diagnosed. How did you progress/afford contacts/etc?
I recently turned 22. I began noticing decline in my vision at 16-17. My school told my parents I needed to see an optometrist, and they refused. I struggled academically because I started to be unable to even see the board when they were teaching. At 18 I moved out & my parents removed me off their healthcare so I couldn’t really afford to get my eyes looked at.
At 21 I went in for my license renewal and bombed the vision test. I finally was able to get the funds to go to an optometrist, and she said she’s confident I have KC but need to see a specialist for an official diagnosis.
It takes me months to get into a cornea consultant. They verify I have KC. They tell me my healthcare (that I purchased for this specifically) doesn’t cover contact lenses. They tell me my lenses will be $1600 per eye (I have KC in both eyes). My right eye is already progressed so much that even with correction they said I will never achieve 20/20 vision again. My left eye isn’t as progressed. I’m starting to be unable to see with my glasses. What do I do?
I can’t afford the lenses or get approved for care credit. I can save up but it will take me at least a year to pull together an extra $5k just for contacts. They also told me I desperately need CXL surgery because scarring is already occurring on my right eye. I didn’t even discuss costs with them because I told them I won’t be able to afford it. Is there anything I can do? I’m genuinely at a loss. The doctors just kept apologizing and weren’t really much help. Which I’m not upset with them, there’s nothing they can do. But like? Do I just keep getting my glasses prescription changed and hope for the best? Idk. Thanks so much for reading.