UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi Folks

As you all know, my wife had a corneal graft last week. It was 16 months and 4 days after being put on the waiting list. This morning St James Hospital here in Leeds told me the current waiting list is 15 to 18 months.

Could I ask how long you waited for an eye to be available? When you reply could you tell me where you had the graft and in what year you had a graft so that I can compare waiting lists by years and regions.

I am doing this to see if there is any pattern to how long people wait in various parts of the UK.

Thanks for your help

Bob

Just over 2 months wait (was brought forward from original 6 months planned)
Leicester (UK)
Feb 2011

St James (Leeds) told me Aug 09 when I signed the paper work arounda year to 18 months wait, but due to a lot of issues etc by January 10 was bumped up the list and then with me in the room Mr M rung the co ordinatro and said if I didnt have it in 12 weeks would be pointless. Had the transplant march 11th 2010. so was waiting about 7 months in total, actual dates of everythignin my signature.

Hi
I had a hydrops episode Christmas day 2005 and was under the care of The Prince Charles Eye unit at King Edward VII hospital in Windsor.I was seen almost weekly to see how the hydrops was healing.Mid March it was decided that my eye would be in a resonable state for a graft 4 weeks later, operation arranged and had graft 4 weeks later on April 10.They told me at the time they only required 4 weeks to arrange for donor tissue.
Pat

I was under the impression that the waiting list for grafts was 3-6 months, but I guess it all depends on local demand and resources.

I think I would have been three months for my first graft, but as the date offered was not good for me, I waited just short of five months for my first graft. It was shorter for my second.

Andrew

I was put on the list end of November. I was told just before Christmas that my graft would be on the 3rd of May . Sure enough it was to the day (Leicester Royal Infirmary) I seem to be very lucky so far and long may it continue.

Ian

Hi All

I have just been put on the list (14th April 2011) and have this morning been told pre op is likely to be August/Sept and then graft (if I choose to go that far) will be 3 or 4 months later, so looks like approx 8 months wait currently forcast for Royal Bolton Hospital.

FYI - my reasons for (if I choose to go that far) are I now have blood vessels in the eye which may reduce transplant success 50/50 being mentioned


Susan

In 2002 and 2005, I waited about 4-6 weeks for my donor corneas.

Both operations were carried out privately, but I was told that the wait on the NHS was more for theatre time a than for the donor tissue to be available.
I was slightly surprised by the 6 week wait for my second transplant, as my surgeon (Chad Rostron) had his own eye bank (I had an unusual "freeze-dried" cornea that time).

John

Waiting times do seem to have got longer in recent years, though it also seems to vary around the country. I only waited 3 mths each time on the NHS - but this was 25yrs ago and Moorfields has its own eye bank so isn't dependent on the national eye banks. It would be interesting to hear from more people especially those who have had a graft in the last year or two.
Anne