UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello - This is my first post and I am hoping for some feedback.

Following 2 succesful grafts in the 1970's, both have needed redoing recently. The first "replacement" was carried out in August 2000 and has been moderately succesful. However, the second op, carried out in June 2002, rejected and I was placed on the UK transplant register to await a tissue match cornea. After 9 months the tissue became available and I had the op on 20th April this year. However, even at this early stage the new cornea is being rejected, despite IV steroid treatment. I was wondering if anyone out there has had a tissue match graft, and if so how successful has it been. Also, to anyone that has had a rejection, have you suffered much pain at the time of the rejection? As mentioned above this is my first post and I would be grateful for any comments/advice re the experience of others.

I underwent HLA tissue typin for my 2nd graft but the results came back with minimal differences in the ratio. We went thru with a unmatched graft, which also rejected. I have been undergoing treatment on immunosuppressive medication , for my 3rd graft i was on Cyclosporin just over 18months. The problem with me is after much research into my past health history is that im just too healthy. The medication in my blood levels are not prominent enough for the graft to survive so I have now been put on Stage 4 immunosuppressive medication which is Myclophentolate (cellcept). Apperently cancer patients are given 4g daily & im on 2g daily along with my prednisolne & costisteriods etc.... Fingers crossed that this graft lasts abit longer than the others if not a lifetime.

Peter,
Why did you grafts need redoing? What sort of signs occured that made this necessary? You also mention that your op in 2000 was moderately succesful - I take it this is still functioning.

Steve

bump for this thread as I was also wondering why the grafts needed redoing?

My grafts failed frm toxic endothelial rejection, epethelial rejection and massive vascularization. The rejections have been instant & do not give the consultants any chance to attempt recovery. We have still tried to recover the grafts with subcon injections. Once the subcons were so intense that my eye heomarraged.

DAM endo and epith so front and back!...jeezz thats bad!.....when you say the eye haemoraged assume you mean the Lids and not the eye itself as that can lead to total blindness?


I sure got alot of respect for you after reading your other post...you sure have been through it but are here still fighting !..GOOD ON YOU!!!.....hows the current graft doing?

eye was bleeding all dwn the side of my cheek. Really scary but then we called it quits on that graft.
This graft started to go frm vascularization last sunday but as im on cellcept & i increased my dexamethasone to every 30mins the episode resided.

Naeem

Oh ok so you ar eon Maxidex as well...every 30 mins...I have issues with it 4 times a day and remembering..and then theres you every 30 mins....Im really glad it subsided.......as you have had a number of graft rejections have your specialists spoken to you about the artificlal grafts?

yes i've looked into Alphacor but we are still thinking positive.

excellent.....and yeh Positive is what its about!....over n a US based site there was this gentlemen who had the Artisan Lens that I was speaking with about 2 weeks back and he has had Unbeleiveable results with the lens...as in 20/25 unaided vision.....some of the advancements in this field are really encuraging!!