CXL / Intacs / Keraflex

[Samantha_Radford]

Hi, just wanted to know if its possible to have any of these procedures under general anaesthetic? As i would be too scared to have them awake, if i was ever to opt for any of them in the future.

Thanks.

[Anne Klepacz]

Hi Samantha and welcome to the forum,
I imagine it would be possible to have Intacs under general anaesthetic - maybe there's someone here who can confirm that. I know of one case of a man with Down's Syndrome who had CXL under general though that's very unusual. Don't know about Keraflex, I'm afraid.
Anne

[Lynn White]

Hi

It is theoretically possible but adds greatly to the cost and also the risk. You would have to discuss this with individual ophthalmologists

Lynn

[caroline6505]

Hi

I'm afraid I can't comment on whether a general is available, but can offer some reassurance... I had crosslinking in both eyes and have had a graft. I must admit to feeling very apprehensive, but after being given a local, it most definitely took the edge off things. I most definitely didn't feel fear, and the whole procedure was made much more bearable!

Best wishes.

Caroline.

[mr_skyfarmer]

Hi,

As someone who has to be knocked out to have a filling at the dentist I have to say the CXL was a walk in the park.

I was given a valium before, which takes the edge off and considering how evasive the procedure is I didn’t feel a thing.

Once the anesthetic has worn off that’s when you won’t be happy!!!!

So I wouldn’t worry about the procedure!

Andy

[DanB]

Hi Samantha

I've had CXL done under local - I was very nervous beforehand, but it was nowhere near as bad as I expected. As Andy said, I was given a vallium first, which helps to calm you down and the anasthetic means you can't actually feel what they're doing at all. You also can't see it because it's too close to focus on.

I'm have Intacs done on Monday next week, so I'll let you know what that's like afterwards. Again I'm very nervous, but going on the CXL treatment, I'm hoping it won't be as bad as I'm expectng.

Dan.

[munster]

I'm have Intacs done on Monday next week, so I'll let you know what that's like afterwards.

I'll be interested in review. I get to see my consultant in April to further discuss my options for my KC. I'm seriously considering Intacs as my preferred solution next. Still can't get any satisfactory CL's with my lens fitter.

Had Kerasoft, but every order he puts in, come back slightly different from manufacture. Tried hybrid lenses, I just get too much ghosting from the vision. Currently trying piggyback hard on soft. Still not getting the right fit.

So now, i'm looking at Intacs. My motto is, it can only make things better.

[DanB]

Hi munster

I'll definitely let you know how it goes with the Intacs. Like you I've been struggling to get good vision with the lenses, particularly in the right eye. Hoping that the Intacs make it possible for my optometrist to get the lens to work. They think it's the inside surface of my cornea that's the problem, so contact lenses alone aren't working.

However, the surgeon has warned me that there is definitely no guarantee that the Intacs will work. I had CXL done about 14 months ago, so my cornea is now less flexible, which means it will be harder for the Intacs to pull it back into shape. So if the Intacs don't work for me, that doesn't mean they won't work for you.

I like your motto, but at this point I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. Over the last 3 years I've had so many things that I keep thinking will make a difference, only to find that they haven't. (I haven't been able to drive now for nearly 3 years.) Having said that, maybe this is what will do the job. The CXL has helped the left eye, so maybe this will crack the right one!

I'll let you know how I get on.

Dan.

[Andrew MacLean]

There was a time when it was almost received wisdom that some procedures were always performed under a General Anesthetic. Then some people began to have even transplant surgery under a local (I think that Knight was the first forum user who posted about this).

I have had some eye surgery with GA and some with a local, and should say that my preference now would always be for a local.

Every good wish

Andrew

[munster]

They think it's the inside surface of my cornea that's the problem, so contact lenses alone aren't working.

My lens fitter has said the exact same thing to me. He thinks its the most inner layers of my cornea that's weakened as well as the outside. My consultant has done 2 cornea scans over 3 months and said there's been no progression, which is good. My left eye (my main eye because i'm left eye dominate) is always sore on on its left surface in a morning, which makes wearing a lens impossible for about 4 hrs Not good for when I need to drive for work.

The thing with Intacs (as explained to my family) is, as you say, no guarantee of improved vision, but there's always a chance. It may only reshape the cornea, but at least it might make lens fitting much easier That's why I have my motto. I really hope you do have some good luck with Intacs. I know what its like when nothing goes right for your vision. Your left in a world of blurriness and ghosting that drives you mad