Help!

[Jo]

Hi all,
Im having the graft in my left eye tomorrow, and am getting extremely nervous. I was wondering whether you guys (who have had a graft) could help me by answering a question i have that has been bugging me.
When you had the graft what was your vision like (a) in the days directly after having the graft, and (b) weeks/months after the graft?
Ive been told that i cant wear a contact till after i get the stitches out, which is 18months. I rely on my contacts so much, what if my vision doesnt improve enough for me to live without the contact?

[GarethB]

Hi Jo,

All reasonable questions.

Regarding vision immediatly post graft as you know is patient dependant and also determined by if you have a full thickness or partial thickness graft.

For me I went from not being able to see the eye chart at all to suddenly being able to see the top two lines and gradually more lines came as stiches were removed.

The initial poor vision was down to puffy eyelids from the operation where the ids were held apart and around the eyes where injections were made once I was out for the count. The whole op was about an hour although I later slept for most the day so could not sleep at night.

After about six months I was wearing glasses to correct the vision in the grafted eye. About 2 years post grafted I did not need any sight correction, it was about six years post graft that I needed glasses and 16 years post graft before I needed lenses again but that is not due to the graft.

I beleive in a vast majority of cases that once vision has stabalised glasses are sufficient to give proper corrected vision. Lenses perhaps in about a quarter of grafts and the rest down to vanity.

Hope this helps some.

[Val G]

Most of us that have had grafts will confess to being extremely nervous beforehand. I was even having second thoughts when I was ready for theatre! convincing myself that I could continue to struggle along without the op. My consultant reassured me by saying I had no reason not to expect a good out come from the graft. I'm sure it will be the same in your case, they wouldn't be doing the op if they didn't think it was going to make a significant positive difference to your life.
My vision post op was (as Jayuk, I think, described) like looking through a layer of vaseline, which gets thinner as the days and weeks go by.
How is your vision in your other eye?

[John Smith]

Yes, immediately after my graft, I had the "vaseline vision", but it was instantly a lot more focussed than before - I could see the third line on the chart, where before I was wondering where the chart was!

In the week or three that followed, the vaseline effect reduced to nothing, but the vision became worse. My consultant told me not to worry - this was the effect of the swollen cornea becoming more normal. Initial vision post-graft is unimportant - it is now correctable where it wasn't previously.

I can often see now well enough to drive with glasses only for my grafted eye, and I was wearing glasses from about 6 months post-graft.

Best of luck for tomorrow. Let us all know how you get on.

[Prue B]

My first graft I had a bad reaction to the medication that reduced pressure in the eye. I could not eat and slept for a week. I was massively glare sensitive for about 6 weeks. "Sunglasses at night" was my signature song. I was unable to read or watch tv and extremely disorientated. The first stich removal actually cleared my vision brilliantly. To 6/6 which is basically unheard off. So do not expect that but life got much easier. I used to sneeze holding my eye and it hurt more than I expected but panadol helped.
My second eye was a dream in comparison, but the eye never gave me as good vision.
I found patches helped me orientate, and learning to be still. I also found audio book a big boon.