Mental health

Keratoconus can cause fairly rapid and severe vision loss in some people if not treated early. Adolescents and young adults are particularly at risk. Due to their young age, and often their lack of life experience and resilience, these groups in particular can suffer mental health issues arising from the loss of vision and the ability to do their daily activities, such as school or university, work, sports, driving, caring for family and friends and socialising etc.

Peer support is a powerful force in helping people diagnosed with keratoconus or experiencing rapid vision loss or who are simply not coping in their day-to-day lives. Keratoconus Australia aims to assist people needing extra support by listening to them, exchanging their own experiences and assisting them to find the right care from professionals, both to help improve their vision and to offer counselling if required.

People wishing to talk to someone at Keratoconus Australia can contact us through our Helpline (please register with us beforehand if possible).

Mental Health Resources Guide for the Australian Vision Sector

The arrival of COVID-19 in 2020 highlighted the need for further resources for people suffering vision loss. Government-imposed lockdowns prevented patients seeing their eye-carers in a timely fashion for diagnosis and treatment. Not surprisingly, the anxiety and stress created by COVID-19 and restricted access to timely eye care only exacerbated the issue of mental health amongst patients.

In 2019, Keratoconus Australia initiated moves within the eye sector to create resources specifically designed to assist people suffering mental health issues stemming from vision loss.

In June 2021, Vision 2020 Australia created a working party on improving mental health support for people with vision loss and nominated Keratoconus Australia, as chair.

A growing number of organisations have joined the working party, which has made steady progress towards the development of vision-focused resources to support those suffering mental health issues from vision loss.

In September 2023, Vision 2020 Australia launched a new website called the Mental Wellbeing and Vision Loss Resource Guide which will form the foundation of future work in this space.

We urge all people with keratoconus and their families to consult this website for information on how to deal with mental health issues arising from vision loss. The guide includes information on different types of mental health problems, how to assist someone experiencing mental health issues, peer support groups and organisations working in the vision loss field, counselling and crisis assistance