Corneal graft

[Steve26]

First of all let me introduce myself.

My name is Steve and I had a corneal graft on the 19th April this year at Sunderland. I was fortunate enough to have the partial graft rather than the full and have to say the results are fine up to now. No discomfort or complications tocuh wood since the operation at all. Vision is not great but I have been informed it will improve (remembering its early days).

Anyway its reached the stage where stitches are to be removed - next week in fact and to be blunt I'm totally bricking it, even more so than the op.

Could people who have had this done share their experiences of getting this done. I know this will either reassure me or prepare me for the worst!!!

Anyway can I just thank everyone on this site for the information I received pre-grat it settled a lot of nerves and I found it very informative.

[jayuk]

Hello mate

I can chime in here..I had one removed and like you I was also bricking it big style!.. To the point where I asked if i could be put under lol. But it was not that bad.

I had one removed day after my op and its painless. They put in the eye anasthetic drops, waited 30 seconds, popped my head on the slit lamp, and holding my top lid up he cut a stitch out.

I chose not to look at what he was using, but it was some sharp blade like instrument but I was so amazed at how simple it was....I just had visions prior of this being the hardest bit but turned out to be the easiest!....I had more issues when they take the Corneal Pressure readings!.

Im surprised they are taking your stiches out so soon?...I assume you mean a few and not all?

[Steve26]

Thanks for sharing that! Ita always reassuring to read someone elses experience.

I was really surprised when he said they would start taking stitches out. All in all I have 16 in my eye at the moment and they are looking to take two out the next time I see my consultant (if you pardon the obvious pun). By the time I return to the eye infirmary it will have been 4 weeks aprox. since the op.

You go through the op then your worried about two minute stitches coming out. I dont know

Steve

[John Smith]

You go through the op then your worried about two minute stitches coming out. I dont know

Tell me about it! I was really panicked about my single zigzag stitch being removed. I'd wound myself up so much about it that I was feeling rather faint at the time, and had to take a break. Consultant was quite concerned at that point; she'd already cut the long thread into individual stitches, and was telling me that she couldn't let me go home - and had to finish the procedure there and then!

Still, it was a weird feeling, but quite painless in the end!

[steveg]

Steve,
Nothing to worry about at all. I had full grafts in both eyes done in the 90s.

They were removed in ones and twos at first, they after several months half went. There is no pain, just a slight tickling sensation. It just made me marvel at the skill of the surgeon and what a fantastic skill it was.

When I had half the stitches removed, it was one of the most fantastic things I have ever experienced. I was straight out of the place and home within an hour. For the first time in years I could read a paper and watch the TV without assistance.

When I had the second eye done, I used to look forward to having the stitches removed - it is no problem whatsoever.

Steve