Saskia Mclean’s story: keratoconus
10 October 2025
At the age of sixteen, Saskia was diagnosed with keratoconus. She has since undergone several surgeries at Moorfields and still receiving treatment. Saskia shares her journey.
The symptoms
Saskia has worn glasses since the age of eight and was long overdue for an eye examination during Covid.
She was unaware that her vision was deteriorating rapidly, as the only noticeable symptom was a slight blurriness.
During lockdown, she was shielding due to underlying health conditions, her local opticians kindly opened an hour early to accommodate her. It was during that appointment that the extent of her vision loss was first discovered.
Saskia shared that her initial symptoms mirrored typical vision loss symptoms such as headaches, tired eyes and struggling to read close up and far away.
As her condition progressed, she began to struggle with spatial awareness and developed double vision.
The diagnosis
Following her visit to the optician, she was referred to her local hospital, where she was diagnosed with keratoconus.
They explained that, although she is young, the progression of her eye condition was significantly advanced.
What is keratoconus?
Learn more
Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory eye condition. It causes the cornea, a round dome-shaped clear window of the eye, to progressively thin forming a cone-like bulge. This eventually impairs the ability of the eye to focus properly, potentially causing poor vision.
- It is usually diagnosed in young people in their late teens or early twenties
- The exact cause remains unknown but genetics and environment factors are believed to play a role
- It is more common in non-caucasians
- At early stages of the condition, glasses or contact lenses may be used to correct vision
- In very advanced cases a corneal transplant may be needed
Saskia first visited Moorfields Eye Hospital’s children’s department when she was sixteen years old during the height of Covid.
I was told Moorfields would be my best bet at saving my sight.
Saskia Mclean, Moorfields patient
The first treatment
Saskia and her mother were told that her vision was deteriorating quickly, and that corneal cross-linking could help stop the progression of the condition and prevent further damage.
What is corneal cross-linking?
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Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is a treatment designed to prevent progression of corneal weakness. Keratoconus is the most common condition that needs this treatment. Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea weakens, becomes thinner and changes shape. CXL is successful in 9 out of 10 cases.
With CXL, ultraviolet light and riboflavin (vitamin B2) eye drops are used to stiffen, or ‘cross-link’, the protein fibres in the cornea. CXL mimics the natural corneal stiffening that occurs with ageing. This is why keratoconus rarely progresses in people aged 30 and over, and why CXL is not normally needed for older patients.
When Saskia was seventeen, she had her first surgery.
The doctors explained that the surgery had approximately a 90% success rate, though the recovery process would be challenging. However, if successful, she likely wouldn’t require any further surgeries.
At Saskia’s six-week check-up she was told her surgery was unsuccessful.
This was a rare occurrence, and had nothing to do with the surgeon, but the amount of damage my cornea had.
Saskia Mclean, Moorfields patient
Over the next six months, Saskia attended numerous appointments with optometrists, doctors specialising in eye muscles, and contact lens specialists in an effort to preserve her sight.
Saskia’s vision deteriorated rapidly, and she could only see colours.
Second treatment
The only way to save her sight was a corneal transplant.
What is a corneal transplant?
Learn more
A corneal transplant is an operation to replace all or part of a damaged cornea. It can improve your vision or treat other eye problems.
It’s usually done if wearing glasses or contact lenses is no longer enough to improve your vision, or you have eye pain.
I was told recovery would be brutal, needing to put in three kinds of eye drops up to eight times a day, having stitches in my eye, and it could reject.
Saskia Mclean, Moorfields patient
Knowing all of this, Saskia decided to go ahead with the surgery in October 2023.
The recovery was long but within two weeks the bandages were removed.
The world came into focus. For the first time in two years I wasn’t walking into things, was cleared to drive for the first time, and the future was bright.
Saskia Mclean, Moorfields patient
After surgeries
The follow up appointment showed that Saskia’s vision was almost perfect. She did not need contact lenses, further treatment and the stitches did not need to be removed.
Unfortunately, one year after the transplant in October 2024, it became apparent that the condition had spread to her left eye.
Saskia is now waiting for cross-linking treatment for her left eye, where she has also begun to lose her vision.
I have hope, because I know Moorfields will help me, like they did before, and I will see again.
Saskia Mclean, Moorfields patient
