Awaiting a corneal transplant
Posted: Mon 12 Aug 2019 8:12 pm
My keratoconus story started when I was 19 I was diagnosed a few weeks before starting my Nursing degree in Bristol. I was given a pair of glasses and a referral to the Bristol eye infirmary. After a few years my sight deteriorated and I was given soft contact lenses which at the time was a revolation and I was able to see clearly for the first time in ages . I passed my degree and worked as a staff nurse until I decided to leave Bristol and move back to Plymouth. I saw an opthalmologist who said the soft lenses weren't any good for my eyes and I needed hard lenses to enable me to see . I went two weeks without lenses which meant I was unable to work in my new job was a very difficult time . I have had the hard lenses the last 15 years with my eyes gradually deteriorating. It has been a constant battle to prevent dry eyes with the use of drops and creams and plugs to the the tear ducts nothing seemed to work and my eyes have suffered and I have been left with scaring to both my eyes. I am at the point now where I have had a hydrops to my left eye which has caused damage to the eye to the point I can no longer wear a lens in the left eye the only option now is to have a graft . I depend totally on my right eye for sight but the sight is deteriorating. I am just about able to drive but my job is dependent on me driving I am also mum to four children so the thought of not being able to see is terrifying. I have been told that the graft is the only option but I am worried that the graft won't take and that I won't be able to continue to work. I would love to hear about how others have managed in similar situations .