UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

In the words of my surgeon, 'This is certainly a surprise and well above expectations!'

Attended my first post op evaluation and examination, wearing my ubiquitous shades. They had to turn most of the lights off so I could remove my sunglasses and look at the eye chart without a flood of hyper-light-sensitive tears. I can see the first 2 lines on the eye chart the rest is a blur but through the pinhole eye do-hicky I was able to get down to between the 6 and 7 lines, could make out a few end letters on the second last line but those were more guesswork than proper sight, but it came out at 6/36! When I compare this to the inability to count fingers pre-op and the expected post-op vision of maybe just counting fingers my surgeon regarded this result as tremendous - I, on the other hand, regard it as a small medical miracle, but that's just me!
The IOP is between 10 and 15, couldn't get an exact measurement as my eye kept moving and closing because of the light, there was a better machine available to take this measurement but with all the other poking around they simply said my eye had had enough - but I was really happy about that because I have been 'feeling' some pressure, so, everything in that regard is fine. There was some correction in the information I was given the morning after the operation, when I asked about my stitches from the nurse in that, today I learned that I have ten interrupted running nylon sutures - I asked him to write it down!
Anyway, there are some wrinkles, one above, one below my iris but those are outside the field of view, the graft with relation to DALK is larger than normal but is healthy, clear and fixed with really no other concerns to worry. Apparently the eye itself is recovering extremely well and even the abrasion I had has disappeared, so that was great to hear. I've to now just continue taking Dexamethasone and Chloramphenicol drops, each 1x4 daily for, at least the next 6 weeks when my next appointment is due, and because I feel my eye so dry at times I can take regular artificial tears, relief.
I asked what to expect regarding optics, if it would be lenses or could I get away with regular glasses, too early to tell but I'll know more when a few stitches come out around the 3-4 month mark - even though, my vision is much improved, well above what they expected to ever happen, I'm only two weeks post op and there's much room for improvement still. They'd be astounded if my vision got even better by the time I visit them again but every indication is there that it has every chance and I would be a rarity if I needed no corrections at all, encouraging even if it just stays like this is all I can say!
So that's it. I was at the eye clinic for just under an hour, I'm pleased, more relaxed and at ease today, all my questions and concerns answered, even though everyone was 'mildly shocked' at such vision improvement at this early stage - I'm determined not to get too carried away with it and simply continue what I'm doing. I can see and in relatively good health, and for that I am grateful!

Knight

That is a fantastic visit!!!

The wrinkles do take a while to even out as I am sure you are aware.....but generally ppl find that the vision changes are rather fast once the back surface flattens on your own cornea.....

To me, I think a result is if you can wear glasses!...anything about that is just amazing!!..

J

Knight

Way to go eyes! Well done

Andrew

Congratulations! It's a great feeling isn't it? - it's a massive boost to go the hospital and be told your vision has improved instead of worsened for a change! Even though you know yourself it is improving, it's still nice to have that confirmation.

Hopefully it'll continue as the months progress, and in 12-18 months you'll remember with a smile how impressed you were in those early days, and how you were unaware that the best is yet to come...

Good luck.

Rob.

Edit: noticed after submitting that I'd put "congraftulations!" which was an appropriate typo, made me smile anyway.

Excellent news. It is really great youcan see that well. My first visit back at about the 6 week mark I could not see a bloody thing, my opthalmolgist took a stitch out (he uses one running and heap of interupted, that he manipulates the focus with) and my vision suddenly cleared. When I say suddenly cleared it went from where the hell is that top line, in fact where is the finger you are pointing at it with, to "E N T" For those of you that do not know my opthalmologists chart by heart, as I do. ENT is the 6/6 line. My opthalmologist did a little happy dance then and told me to expect some more improvement over the next hour or so as my eye settled down from the stitch removal. It was a miracle, and basically all he has done since then is remove more stitches, I still remained at 6/6, then after 18 months removed the continuos stitch. I am still seeing the 6/6 line in that eye uncorrected, but it has gotten a bit less clear over the last 10 years, and my right eye (not the miraculous result I had in my left) is only seeing 6/18. I could read 6/6 both eyes but it was an effort and I was getting headaches. So I went back to glasses. I am corrected a pretty clear 6/6, amazing what magnification does. The orthoptist told me though, with my script most people would read about 3/36 but she finds kcers post graft see much better than they "should" be able to. It is not the case with people who have grafts due to other reasons. i always believed we use what sight we have better than other people.

Thats great news. I had a penetrating graft with 16 stiches. The days after the op I could see 6/60 as apposed to less than 1/60 pre graft. At my one week post graft appointment My VA was 6/36 and I had a lose stitch which where the protruding ends were cut as it could not be taken out at the time. At one of my appointments, I think it was 5 weeks post graft I managed to get 6/9 and part 6/6 with my grafted eye uncorrected somehow but I could only see that well for just for a few hours. Now 6.5 months post graft my vision fluctuates around 6/36. I can see 6/6 through pinholes. At my 6 months post graft appointment I was told to wait a few more weeks until stitches should be removed so will have some taken out in 2 weeks time.

I had my graft and attend appointments at the Nottm QMC on the NHS for the past 3 years and have had many appointments. I do not think I have ever seen the same consultant more than once/twice. Since first visiting the eye clinic I have appointments with a certain consultant or one of his team, but have never had been seen by the consultant, but a opthalmologist from his team. I was only seen by the consultant when I was discussing aspects of a graft with him. Has anyone else been in a similar situation or is it just me.

Wow, I can't believe how tired I feel suddenly, yet I'm sitting here, reading all the new posts but I just wanted to comment on what Asif commented on before I fall asleep. The whole time I've had KC/lenses, I have only ever seen the consultant Dr. Jackson at the Contact Lens Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast N.Ireland. I've attended there for the past 15 years and have developed a good friendship with him (Jackson) and the rest of the staff over those years. I'm, as well, being treated via the NHS and it seems experiences can vary greatly, but I have seen no differences in standards, or treatments - a few years back a woman had went ape in the waiting room complaining that she was 'paying' and should not be sitting in a line but she was seeing the same Consultant that I was! The clinic runs an appointment system and that day it just so happened, I was running late and had just arrived when my name was called out - oh boy did that cause a rumpus!
Anyway, I consider myself extremely fortunate, not just in having one consultant to see but Dr. Jackson is familiar with my 'case' which has always attributed to how confidant I felt in each step I took. It was based on his treatment-advice (very highly recommended referral) that I had been referred to the lead eye surgeon - Dr Frazer (same hospital) - who performed my operation, again, each visit to the Corneal Graft Clinic since - 4 in total now, I have only ever been examined and treated by Dr Frazer although today he asked me if it would be ok that his assistant sit in during the examinations, which was fine by me, so there ensued some 'co-poking' for a bit.
The first time I ever saw Dr. Frazer, Dr Jackson was present and introduced me to him back in May 05 I think and it has been key in my confidence, being able to speak face to face to the man and understand right from the beginning who that doctor was as I literary watched and heard him operate on me live a few months later - and seeing him today on the other side of all this, was once more, confidence building and very reassuring.
Obviously, I don't have any other perspective on how I am being treated, until a few months ago, I had presumed this was the norm across the NHS, but I have since learn different and it is interesting to hear others' experiences on this side of things.

@ Rob, I am indeed looking forward to that time when I can look back and smile. Also this part "Edit: noticed after submitting that I'd put "congraftulations!" which was an appropriate typo, made me smile anyway. for some reason I read originally and smiled at it, but upon reading your edit remark I smiled then busted out laughing almost hurting my eye - it was just the idea of it struck me so funny - well done!

@ Prue, how did you find wearing glasses and not lenses, did it take any getting used to, did it feel weird? Because since stopping wearing a lens in my left eye it feels, naked, if that makes sense, like something missing.

I was lens intolerant. I had a poor fit to start with which they refused to admit may be a poor fit and imo this caused my eyes to become intolerant to lenses. I tried heaps of types but could never tolerate an hour. So fo me glasses was back to my pre graft days, but the vision is so much clearer.