UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Had my 6 week post-graft appointment today which the hospital were very insistent I had as scheduled even though I really wanted to be at the National Youth and Junior Duathlon Championships where my athletes were racing (they managed 1 gold, 2 silvers and a bronze medal without the benefit of my prescence )
Initially when I showed up they had my appointment down as cancelled but they managed to re-instate it thankfully or I was going to be majorally upset. First off I had an eye-test and it was really tricky, eye as bad as it has ever been. You know when they try two different lenses in front of your eye and ask which one is better? In my case they are generally so different it is difficult to know, sometimes letters disappear completely or multiple images appear and it was really hard work. At the end they always get you to look through some pinholes and magically you can see the whole chart crystal clear
Anyway it transpired that my surgeon was on holiday so saw an optom instead but she was the really sympathetic one who is a runner so understands my lifestyle. I can't believe how little information I had before having the operation. I've learned so much more from this site and the conference DVD than I ever got from my medics. Anyway getting back to the point I eventually saw another consultant and the outcome is that the eye is healthy but I've got various creases and folds in the epithelium which should disappear with time. Anyone else able to confirm that from personal experience? I've also got quite a lot of astigmatism so they are going to take me into theatre to have my stitches adjusted. Again has anyone had any experience of that being done to let me know what I can expect in terms of the procedure, how long it will take to recover (am I being optimistic to expect to coach a bike ride straight afterwards ), and whether I can expect significantly better sight?
Thanks,
Jack

Jack

Well done on the atheletics medals.

I'm glad to know that your eye is healthy! I'd not worry too much about the folds in your epithelium. That will straiten out in time.

The asjustment to your sutures would be under a light local anesthetic. In Glasgow they play music while its done.

All the best

Andrew

Jack

I know I was a lot further down the line but I had my continuous stitch adjusted at one year post graft, as it was loose. It was done in A+E, with numbing eye drops. It just required sitting very slit at the slit lamp. I could not feel anything and was fine afterwards.

Hope it goes well.

Jack......congrats on the positive coaching methodology.

Here's what you should expect when having stitches adjusted: A two hour travel to the clinic,traffic that is unusual and stops you when you need to move, an hour or so in the waiting room with people who wont look at you or want to tell you their life histories, a nurse who cannot pronounce your name properly, loss of your chart and file and a subsequent search, a cup of coffee from a vending machine, an Optham who was also caught in traffic and is a bit late......and five minutes of sitting still while he/she moves or clips a couple of tiny little sutures.

No trouble really.....just sit still for a bit, then go home.

Piper

Thanks guys, good to know it shouldn't be too long or painful
I won't have any trouble getting to the hospital as wll be cycling but all the other problems are possible
Was your sight noticeabley better afterwards?
Jack

Any retensioning of the sutures will change the slope, and possibly the axis, of your astigmatism. You will probably notice a difference in your vision, but not necessarily an improvement.

Don't be too worried, at this stage, about the quality of your vision. The first priority is the health of your graft. Once that is scure they will look to long term vision as they selectively remove sutures, letting off tension here and there, as they work to secure as "natural" a shape to your cornea as possible.

Andrew

Hey guys,
Well I had my stitches adjusted last Wednesday, not the most pleasant experience of my life
It was done in the theatre, not in front of a slit lamp like some of you have experienced. Apparently they have had too many people pass out in consulting rooms.
Not pleasant having your eye forced open and made to stare into a bright light, as you photosdensitive souls will appreciate. I couldn't even open my other eye and that was underneath a sheet with a hole in it through which they did the procedure. Anyway apparently I have a "good-looking graft" and once started things didn't take long and were uncomfortable rather than painful. Vision doesn't seem to be any better but I have my next appointment in 4 weeks and will see then if I can be any more decisive in front of a Snellen chart. In the meantime I will keep coping with being one-eyed....
Jack

Jack,

Sounds like you ahd more than just one or two removed.

It always took me a week or so to readjust to the stitches being removed. Not just the eye settling down, but the brain adjusting to the change in image it could see.

Fingers crossed you will be able to see better at the next visit.