Hi there - to graft or not to graft - that is the question ?

[Susan Mason]

Lisa

Glad to hear about the graft in your left eye and fingers crossed for your right eye on the 25th Nov.

It is a real should I/shouldn't I situation, isn't it.

As Jay said a partial graft could well be an option and maybe it is worth discussing this with your consultant/optom.
When a graft was offered to me earlier this year (which for now I have put on hold, as I don't feel the time is right yet) I was offered a partial graft and if I remember rightly it was explained to me that as Jay mentions there is less chance of rejection and if at the time of surgery it was found not to be a suitable option well then a full graft could be done anyway.

Lots of things to think about and if I was you I feel my mind would be all over the place by now.

Maybe a few questions for you to ask?

best wishes

Susan

[GarethB]

I must admit that I am slightly biassed towards the whole graft issue.

It should be considerd quite rightly as last resort and as Susan says, the time must feel right to you.

As I have spoken to more people with KC and searched the net for graft information. My right eye probably needs further surgery on the part that is ungrafted of the grafted eye if that makes sense. It would appear that rejection is and always will be an issue we all need ot be aware of. Having said that of the number of grafts carried out, the proportion of those that have a rejection episode is quite small.

The other point to remember (and John is a living example of this), is as long as you know the signs or the first sign you are worried is to get to eye casualty ASAP. If a rejection episode is cought early, there is a better chance of managing it.

I am sure John will agree that unfortunatly he is perhaps the exception when it comes to rejection episodes and has my utmost respect for the way he manages them and still he his happy

I too am possibly the eception regarding grafts in the opposite way in that I weant a period where post graft I did not need sight correction. Now the old cornea the graft is attached to is letting me down which is very rare. I still regard the grafts a succes 16 years on and they have been completely trouble free.

[Lisa Nixon]

thanks everyone. It is a huge step and so many "what ifs". My left eye is definately a success. Perhaps I'm doing the right eye sooner rather than later, but I feel that as it's bothered by the lens and red most days surely it's better to graft now before the rest of the cornea gets too damaged. I know I may live to regret this but hopefully it will be a success and I'll be able to go back to work. Your support is very much appreciated. My other problem is that my son, now 25 has KC, mild at present, doesn't need glasses as yet. But I am so concerned that he sees what I'm going through and try to shield him from most of it. My hubby has brilliant eyes so hopefully his genes are battling my crappy eye ones and stopping Mike's eyes from getting worse! Tubs

[GarethB]

Lisa,

Get J to e-mail is stuff on C3R treatment, as your son is in the early stages, the information J sent me and the extra research I have done regarding my situation, this technique is well worth exploring if you are in the early/mild stages of KC.

In all bar 1 case of KC that it has been used to treat in a study of 23 people, KC was stopped or regressed slightly. This was a 4 year study, I gather in the region of 200 poeple have been treated with great success. The information post op (not as invasive as a graft), basicly treatment with eye drops containing a vitimin and co-enzymes and a blast of UV light for 30 minutes.

What about an update on this one J?

[Lisa Nixon]

This sounds brilliant, but who's J?

[Susan Mason]

Hi Lisa

J is jayuk

best wishes

Susan

PS you can send a private message if you click on pm at the foot of one of J's messages

[GarethB]

Sorry Lisa,

Jayuk now signs his post J.

I think he is getting lazy as he refers to people with their initials.

J, is it possible to abreviate a letter?

or

shall we refer to ourselves using symbols and not the musical percussion type which also be interesting.

[Lisa Nixon]

Thanks! I often sign myself as Tubs as my usual internet name is Tubsterr and the family call me Tubby! No wonder I feel the need to run a marathon - then I can change my name to Twiggy!!