UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Can anybody please help with any of the following post graft questions.

How long were you off work for?
What is your vision like un-aided a year on?
Did you have any discomfort after the initial couple of weeks / months?
How many times did you visit the hospital in the first year?
What was it like having the stitches out?
Any regrets?
Any other advice to prepare me for a week on Wednesday?

Any responses are gladly welcome.
Thanks in advance
Chris

Hi Chris

How long were you off work for?

2 weeks

What is your vision like un-aided a year on?

I only had the op on 29thy Nov 2007 so its only a few months for me

Did you have any discomfort after the initial couple of weeks / months?

yes plenty but nothing really major, its more like having somehting in ur eye you can't shift, dryness, or watering, itchy but u can't rub etc
painkillers help, and saline splashing occasionally and preservative free eye drops
the drops from the hospital are not for pain/ discomfort they are anti biotics and anti rejection

a bit light sensitive and staring at a computer doesnt help!!!

How many times did you visit the hospital in the first year?

every week for 6 weeks now once a month

What was it like having the stitches out?

no idea yet!

Any regrets?
nothing to lose, as I couldnt see out of left eye before and if I still can't I have lost nothing but if I can see with a lens in a years time thats a bonus

Any other advice to prepare me for a week on Wednesday?

go for it, chill out after, and take care of the eye, do wear an eye patch at night for at least 2 weeks, sunglasses will be your new best friend
good luck

PS. I have asked theses question to my consultant but i was intrested to hear & learn from other peoples experiences.
Chris

Thanks Dweezil for responding,
What was your sight like pre op ,can you see anything yet?
Is your other eye ok?
Chris

What was your sight like pre op ,can you see anything yet?

i had come to the point where they could no longer make a lens that fitted well and allowed me to see, so for 8 months I only saw out of my right eye, obvioulsy hadnt been able to wear glasses for 5+ years
i went privately to get a second opinion and then my GP referred me to a local specialist who luckily is very good and renowned (Mt teimory, Worthing) I had seen people at Sussex Eye Hospital and east grinstead before that

Is your other eye ok?

it has KC but not as bad although some corneal scarring causes discomfort with hard lens- it will be grafted eventually

forgot to say, altho i can't see out of left eye I have noticed it is not so blurry and the ghosting and triple vision has gone- and at houspital check up if i look thru pin hole lens with left eye I can read about 3 lines on the old letter chart- which is great!!!

How long were you off work for?

One month.

What is your vision like un-aided a year on?

Not great, but got used to coping with one eye. Got good ?6/12 vision with a RPG after around 20 months

Did you have any discomfort after the initial couple of weeks / months?

Felt the after effets of the general anaesthetic for a few days. Eye felt like I was wearing an incredibly grubby contact lens.

How many times did you visit the hospital in the first year?

Every couple of weeks for a short while then every few months.

What was it like having the stitches out?

No problem, had all continuos stitch out at the slit lamp in clinic, after one year. Needed painkillers that evening, but fine the next day.

Any regrets?

No

Any other advice to prepare me for a week on Wednesday?

Take something to listen to and make the most of doing absolutely nothing for a few days. Dark glasses are a must!

Hope everthing goes well.

How long were you off work for?
4 weeks

What is your vision like un-aided a year on?
not much improvement

Did you have any discomfort after the initial couple of weeks / months?
First 2 weeks - had a leak, but after got another stitch in everything was much better. Then the next month I got an ulcer, but on the whole, no major discomfort (apart from eyelashes)

How many times did you visit the hospital in the first year?
I think i've been quite unlucky...the leak, then the ulcer, infected stitches - I lost count, but every 4 months now

What was it like having the stitches out?
The thought is worse than the procedure. You can feel it, but you can't.

Any regrets?
Had nothing to loose.

Any other advice to prepare me for a week on Wednesday?
You'll be fine! It won't be as bad as you think, and Good Luck!

+How long were you off work for?
- 10 days

+What is your vision like un-aided a year on?
-had an op on 3. Dec 2007, so cant tell:) but but....this morning i was able to see my wall clock's numbers, so far i saw only hand. numbers are about 1.5 inch height

+Did you have any discomfort after the initial couple of weeks / months?
-still a little discomfort, someday almost nothing, in other day a little more

+How many times did you visit the hospital in the first year?
-next inspection on April

+What was it like having the stitches out?
-one stitch is removed so far due to it caused a little pain (it was too loose). it was a little uncomfortable and a pain in evening, next day was all OK again.

brilliant answer thanks, keep them coming.
Regards
Chris