UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi, Sorry if this has been covered before. I have had a hydrops in my left eye since Christmas day and have been to the eye clinic at Windsor 4 times since then, very handy as it is only a 5 min walk from home. At my appointment yesterday the decision was made to put me on the list for a PK coneal craft as an urgent case. I am expecting an appointment at Mr Packard's clinic very soon to discuss the operation in more detail. I would be gratefull for any advice on what to ask at my next appointment regarding the operation etc. I thank you in anticipation for any advice recieved.
Pat Chinnery.

Pat

Sorry to hear about the Hydrops episode!

Do you know why they have put you on an urgent case? Do you have KC in both eyes and can you see with the other eye?

It has been proved that performing a PK on a hydroped eye WITHOUT allowing for the cornea to heal reduces the chances of a successfull Graft....therefore I was keen to learn why they have treated you as an urgent case.

The whole PK procedure can seem a daunting episode but once gone through it, I found it underwhelming!...however, a mere search on this site from other posters will allow you to review their experiences.

Are you aware of how serious the hydrops was?

Jay

Hello Pat,

Sorry to hear about your hydrops, and what a bad day for it to happen.

Jay's right that it is certianly less common to do a graft on an eye with hydrops, but it is not unheard of. It would be useful though to find out why they are rushing this - have you got reasonable vision in the other eye?

Maybe the issue is the meaning of the term "urgent case"/ If it means that you will ahve the graft in ten weeks rather than twenty, then your hydrops may have healed before you have the operation. If it means that you will have the op in two weeks rather than ten, then I'm as bemused as the others.

Actually you need to talk to your consultant and ask him

1 How long before you can expect the graft
2 Will he operate while you still have the hydrops
3 What does he anticipate will be the consequences of grafting onto an eye with hydrops.

when you have the answers to these questions you will probably be in a better position to make up your mind about what happens next.

A

Thanks for the feedback.The reason for the rush to get the op done is that I have not been able to work since Christmas and I am an aircraft engineer and have to drive 100 miles a day.I phoned the clinic last week to find out what was happening and they had no record of me on the list,then my records were nowhere to be found.On Tuesday I went into the clinic and saw Barry Holland who straight away did his best to sort it out.Surprise surprise got a phone call first thing Wednesday morning and is my records had just turned up on the desk overnight.I am now booked in for pre assessment on 16 March and the op on 10 April.
Pat Chinnery

Pat

All the best

You will stay in our thoughts

Andrew