Corneal transplant in 2 weeks

[Amer]

Hi all,

Not posted here in a while and i thought i would see if anyone has had a top hat corneal transplant, just to get their views and experiences on it. Got my date through for my transplant and my op is on the 14th of Feb, its literally round the corner. Excited, anxious and worried like hell all at the same time. Any advice ??

[Michelle Oates]

hi

i had my graft dalk done 10 months ago and i was apprehensive and all the other emotions you imagine. each individual is different to how they respond.

mine went really well better than the surgeon expected but i now have a setback. but if you have any questions ask the surgeon. thats what he is there for.

just take something to listen to ie music and be ready with painkillers if you need them. you will have eye drops though. i found the hardest thing was getting the gunk out from eyelashes as obviously your eye is sore. but i didnt seem to get much.

dont expect much afterwards sight wise as it is a slow process

good luck.

[stevematic]

Michelle, what's your vision like now post-graft?

[melissa]

Hi Amer,

ask lots of questions... that's what we are here for.... also ask your doctors .
my transplant was almost 3 years ago and has been very successful. i was also scared and worried, but try to stay calm and try to prepare. i had some significant pain immediately after the surgery and was glad to still be in hospital, but when i was released the next morning the pain had reduced and regular pain killers worked okay for me for about 2 weeks. after the 2 weeks the eye cleared, the swelling dropped and the pain dropped off and my vision was dramatically improved... at that point i had uncorrected vision of about 6/12 and it stayed that way with a little up and down... after having the stitches removed at 9 months my eye stablised to about 6/9 (uncorrected ) and with glasses i get 6/6. this is very lucky i know... but you should know that although no-one can guarantee you this success- there are cases where it happens.
in order to prepare- i would suggest getting someone to help you at home for 2/3 weeks. i couldn't do much expect sit in a dark room and found audiobooks to really help with the boredom... i battled to watch tv and the radio gets too much and reading with the other eye was not really possible... i had a lot of support from friends and family and was lucky to have access to my specialist whenever i needed it, so i also saw him OFTEN during those first few weeks...
good luck

[Michelle Oates]

Michelle, what's your vision like now post-graft?

Hi

My vision is still quite bad because i had a setback. the graft instead of looking like a football shape is now a rugby ball shape.

i still need a strong prescription so they said we need to sort out an action plan after the rest of the stitches are taken out.
but i do echo the other post.

my eye pain was quite bad but my cornea's were really bad. it did subside but felt like my eye all swelled up.

-Ask loads questions
-Get some help at home. - unfortunately i couldnt get any plus i was managing without a contact lens in my other eye. but the day after the op i ended up in my local hospital for a week (stroke unit)so they looked after me. so its a MUST GET SOME HELP

- any problems even slight ones ring the hospital up.

i felt more comfortable in the day and night wearing my eye shield- well my eye did.

dont strain your eyes looking at the tv.

be wary of the symptoms of high pressure in the eye.

if i can be of anymore help.

[stevematic]

Thanks Michelle, I wish you the best of luck!

[Amer]

Thanks Michelle and Melissa.

I had my pre op meeting with the surgeon and felt a lot better after that. Still really anxious and know its a long healing process and just getting myself prepared both mentally and sorting out lots of audiobooks to listen to after the op to keep myself busy lol.

[Andrew MacLean]

Amer

It all begins to seem quite real when you have had your pre-surgery meeting.

Every good wish.

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

Hi, sorry to come to this late.
SOme practical prep suggestions:
get tot he pharmacy and get some micropore tape. This is to stick the eye shield in place. I didn't know I'd need this so went round with my eye shield stuck on withmasking tpae for a few days.
look out a coolpack if you have one, or consider investingi n one. You will have eye drops to put in regularly, typically every one or two hours at first, and I and many of us got the ones you have to keep inthe fridge. So if you want to go out, it helps ot have a "portable fridge" to take the drops in .
stock up on your normal painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen or whatever)
Get the housework up to date - particularly any jobs that require lifting or pushing.pulling - eg. take out the gardage/recycling, change the sheets and duvet covers, get the laundry done and put some clothes handy (so you don't have to be ending down getting jeans and sweaters out of low drawers for a few days.
Find or get some sunglasses - you may find you're extra light sensitive for a while.
stock up on easy-to-prepsare food - and/or get a stash of pizza etc delivery leaflets beside the phone.
Rosemary

[space_cadet]

Wishing you all the best. My transplant was almost a year ago and have had far too many set backs to list, so wont scare you with them.

Lea x