My success

[caroline6505]

Hi

Wanted to post about my surgical success after having crosslinking and a wedge resection with auto lamellar keratoplasty (don't ask what that means!).

In April last year I visited the Centre for Sight and saw Mr Daya who advised why my vision was deteriorating (my optician advsed that my vision has deteriorated rapidly and suddenly over a 2 year period) – I have Pellucid Marginal Degeneration in both eyes (I was initially advised 11 years ago that I had KC by a local specialist). I was advised to have crosslinking in both eyes with the aim of halting progression, which I duly did have done (May in right eye, July in left eye). Right eye was a walk in the park in that I had no pain or discomfort. However, my left eye was a different story – it watered uncontrollably, stung and I was extremely light sensitive. Didn't last long though. At the time and months to follow, I have to be honest and report in my case that I actually think it takes a number of months for vision to fully recover from crosslinking, however, one year on my vision has actually improved and stabilised. Though the aim is purely to halt progression, some patients vision actually improves slightly, so thankfully it seems I'm one of the lucky ones. In August I had the ALK in my right eye. Surgery itself was great, in fact, despite being petrified intially and with the help of something to take the edge off things, in a crazy kind of way, it was almost as if I was unaware I was being operated on. Before I knew it, it was all over and thankfully it was pain-free. The recovery wasn't such a walk in the park though. After weeks of triple vision (pouring hot water everywhere except in the cup, walking up/downstairs and missing steps, etc etc), my vision settled enough for me to gain a bit of confidence (I became a bit of a hermit for obvious reasons!). Initially I reacted to the stitches, then the drops, stitches cheese-wired, eyes not working together, etc etc, but things have settled. I'm now very pleased that I have 20/20 vision in my left eye (it was 20/40 before) and I can actually read about 5 lines of an eye chart, which is in complete contrast to before where I could read absolutely nothing!

If I'm being honest I think my expectations were high (I was expecting fast and obvious results) and I actually had no real awareness of how long recovery takes (I was impatient), coupled with the fact that everyone's different. I think it's daunting knowing where to get advice and whose to take. I think one can only do some research, choose a reputable surgeon whose well equipped with state of the art 'toys' and go with your gut feeling.

Hope this might in some small way be helpful to others.

Caroline.

[jojo19732009]

Hi Caroline
Its great to hear something positive...... Thanks
joanne.

[Grim10]

I have gone 8 months now post cross linking, I can't see a thing still.
How long did you go before seeing improvements in vision?

[michaellpl]

I had Xlinking adn actulally see worse after the procedure:( not that lucky I suppose

[fatar760]

Hi Caroline,

I was really thrilled to read this. Very happy for you

[Andrew MacLean]

Caroline.

Well done! Thank you for sharing your news.

Andrew