UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello, long time no see for those of you who remember me and as always I reappear when things start to look exciting.

On the whole things have been good since the graft 6 years ago and was finally discharged from the surgeon's care around a year ago, but I guess that the subject gives things away a bit.

On Friday my eye was very red and sore, so following the RSVP guide I went to get myself looked at by the surgeon - who said that things were a bit inflamed but the cornea looked good but that he does not like inflammation. So on to Maxitrol 4 times a day for a week, then 3 x etc etc and also Mydrilate 2 x a day. Go back and see him in three weeks time.

This evening the vision has started going cloudy and I am uncertain whether this is due to the eye drops as Mydrilate dilates the pupil or whether something more interesting is going on. This can't be a cataract coming as the lens was replace a couple of year back so I can rule that out.

I know that there is not a lot I can do this evening and experience has shown that any nearby A&E unit will refer me to an eye unit the following morning, but if there is no improvement by the morning do I just live with it or call the emergency phone number and get myself booked in to be looked at?

Sorry folks not had this before.

Thanks and best wishes to all.

Paul
PS: anyone reading this who is waiting for a graft - please don't be put off - IMHO it really is worth it.

Hi Paul - I'm not a medic - just a graft recipient like you. From my point of view I have always been (and suspect I always will be worried in relation to anything to do with my graft. Whether iTunes different sensation or the first insect after the graft etc. I guess it goes with the territory because some of us are fortunate to have had a graft and either are lucky enough that it has improved things or , as in my case, brought the deterioration to a halt. Who would want to lose either benefit - hence worrying about anything different. I cannot really advise you or allay your fears - most of the time I go with gut instinct... If I think there is something seriously wrong then I go straight to my specialist hospital - whilst it is 3 hours away I have learnt from experience that any visit to my GP or local A&E only results in being sent to my specialist anyway! Good luck and hope it either settles down or you have good news from getting it checked out!
Jez

Jez,

Well I have had a night's sleep (for varying definitions of sleep), vision is definitely foggy - so that is me ringing the 'oh-dear-lets-get-the-eye-checked-out-hotline' number in about an hour's time.

Definitely time to err on the side of caution. Thankfully I have either 15 mins or 40 mins to go in terms of travel dependant on which hospital I am sent to. Thankful it isn't a three hour journey - or I would be on my way now phoning whilst I go.

It will be fine.

Paul

All the best, Paul. Glad you've decided to go to A&E - it's always the right thing to get any sudden post-graft changes checked out, and to do it promptly. Most rejection episodes can easily be reversed, but the quicker you act, the better the chances.
Anne

Well eye casualty was fun at Ashford but then it always is, but then that is down to the students learning about eyes and nothing thrills me more than almost 20 minutes in front of a slit lamp!

Anyhow it turns out that I am reacting badly to the Maxitrol eye drops and the outer epithelium layer of the cornea is not doing what it should, so off of the Maxitrol and onto Maxidex and things should improve in the next couple of days. Either way have to I return on Thursday morning to get the eye checked again.

Thanks for your thoughts and support.

Paul

Stick with it Paul & good luck!
Jez

Keeping my own topic going!

Well now the eye is in a slightly odd state where there is both inflamation and the cornea surface is drying out. The consultant commented that at this point it is difficult to say whether the inflammation is causing the dryness or vice versa and so cannot be certain whether the non steroid component of maxidex is causing the dryness.

So now am off the Maxidex and on neat dexamethasone to deal with the inflammation and separate lubricant drops to deal with the dryness.

Hopefully by the time I see the consultant next week one or the other conditions will have settled down enough to enable him to make sense of it all.

The good news though is that despite the issues with dryness, the cornea looks really good and does not appear to be rejecting.