pascalini graft update

[Andrew MacLean]

Matthew

I think that in Gartnavel they prefer patients who live a distance from the hospital to stay in overnight after a DALK. There is a clinic the very next morning, so the overnight stay puts you in place for the clinic before you are released.

That, at any rate, was my experience. they will fill you in at your pre-theatre assessment.

They will also give you a leaflet that tells you to remain off work until your first clinic. This is usually at about 6 weeks. I am afraid that after my DALK I didn't really take any time off work. I had a couple of weeks of annual leave and just returned to normal working at the end of that time.

All the best

Andrew

[Matthew_]

Thanks guys, most helpful. I'm not sure my Boss was counting on 6 weeks but if that what it takes....I'm only getting one shot at this and I want to make sure the graft recovers OK. I know what my wife will say when I see her this evening and it won't be 'get back to work as soon as you can!'
Many Thanks

[Neil H]

Matthew.

Day clinic is fine for this op. I had a partial graft over 2 years now and i decided to stay in overnight as i live on my own and they weren't keen on me going home same day as no one was there to look after me. After having done it though i could easily have managed to go home the same day. If, but most likely when, i need the other eye doing i'll be going home the same day and not staying in overnight.

Neil

[Matthew_]

Neil,
Thank you very much. This forum is so useful!

[rkhan19]

Hi
Good to hear that your operation was a success. I was told that I might need the graft because they found a horizontal zigzag scaring on the bottom of my eye and some horizontal scars on the top of my eye. My next check up with one of the main doctors will conform whether I need the gaft. Im really scared at the moment. I was just wondering what could happen if it goes wrong and do they have any procedures to fix the problem if the worst happens. Also what is DALK and PK and in what situations do you need a full graft and a partial graft (I think it was called)??? Does it hurt afterwards????? is it huge pain or is it just a small pain and how long does it last???????

Im sorry for asking so many questions but Im scared at the moment. I was only diagnosed with keratoconus around 4 months ago and now their telling me I need a huge operation out of the blue.

[rkhan19]

Sorry I made a mistake, they found vertical scars on the top of my eye

[GarethB]

rkhan19

Of any group of patients need in a graft the KC population seems to have by far the highest success rate.

There is a difference between medical success and what the patient terms a success. Medically if the cornea is clear, thriving with no signs of rejection is a success. For the patient it is how well they can see. The many things to look out for are infections which are easy to reduce the risk of by following good personaly hygeine and rejection which us uncommon and provided you catch it early is reversable. I know many who have had rejection episodes within the first couple years and have been rejection free since and their grafts are over 20 years old. I've never had rejection and my grafts are 20 years old.

Remember grafts are not a cure, a long term management, the aim of the surgery is to provide a corneal surface whereby vision is easier to correct with either glasses or contact lenses.

Operation is commonly an hour or so followed by regular use of eye drops which reduces over time as the graft heals. stitches often are rremoved as and when and at between 12 - 18 months all stitches are removed. Once vision is stable do the consultants think about glasses or contact lenses.

Absolutly nothing to be afraid of.

Regards

Gareth