UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I have now joined the J-SAG!

John Smths Astigmatism Club!

Over the past 4-6 weeks I have noticed that my vision change has been constant throughout the day. What I mean by this, is that at a set time during the day my cornea changes, and more to the point I am 99.9 % certain my point of astigmatism in the corneal surface moves and thus my glasses cannot correct the issue.

Ive taken notes already and the followings seems constant

I wake up either 4:30am or 8am depending on where I am working. Regardless of the time, at around 6pm my vision gets sllightly distorted with my glasses on. I can no longer see as sharply on the TV screen (for example the Text on the bottom when you chance channels on Sky/NTL) etc. Whilst it doesnt affect driving, seeing things in general, it does affect small text at a reasonable distance!

I am going to progress with Consultant but having done some research I am certain that this change is to do with hydration in the cornea...I only have a single running stitch around the cornea and this whole issue seems to have started when my single sutures were removed.

I did have a similar issue before where vision would change in the day but this was correct after a few minutes of blinking and celluvisc; but this doesnt seem to work

Hmmmmmm!!

J

Hi Jay, welcome to the club

Yes, we'd pretty much ascertained that the vision change was due to hydration; and celluvisc was recommended to me - but like you I found it no use at all vision wise.

I'm glad that you're still OK to drive - it really annoys me that I'm not, which would probably be the main reason for going PK rather than DALK for the left eye. I'd advise you to print out the calibrated snellen chart though on the main site and double-check!

This is becoming disturbingly like a trend. John was the first person of whom I was aware who reported this effect, now Jay ...

Is this something that we all ought to expect, or does it just affect the occasional graftee?

Andrew

Not really sure...but what is certain is that it has only occured after I have had the single surrounding sutures removed......therefore I can only imagine that when they were there, the change in the cornea in the day was not able to have its affect as the sutures were holding the cornea stable

Maybe so, but I was OK for the first 18 months post suture removal. And then, whammo!

In fact, I've just realised that I've not yet worked a Monday or Tuesday since the last London social back in November! I've now done 2 Wednesdays though, and hope to have done my first Monday by errr.. Monday

Could this be a contraindication of the running suture? I've pbvopously never heard of it occurring where there were individual sutures, but you both seem to have had the running suture applied to your grafted corneas.

A

I´m afraid I belong to the same club. Certainly for my old graft which has undergone lasik, it changes. But less and less. And my surgeon says it is normal.

The recent graft changes vision to the better every day. Starts off in the fog and ends up like an eagle in the evening. Those cells in the cornea back layer pumping water day long Seems to be similar to Johns other eye.

Jay,

See if you can use drops such as Sytsane, hydarting drops just do not do it for me.

1) They time time to kick in.
2) The duration is short lived.

The lubrication drops or drops that mimic more than one component of the tears help. Once you ahve restored the hydration sate of the cornea, you want to lock it in for as long as possible.

This is the problem I am having with my lens on the ancient graft. As the cornea drys, the surface the lens sits on is not lubricated enough plus the shape has changed so the lens fails to self centre as it should which is why simple removal of the lens wetting and reinsertion fails. The problem is more with the cornea.

Not just affetcing us graft people but also the lens wearers too but probably to a lesser extent.

Yes, Think thats a good idea...Im going to do that tomorrow. I am going to add a drop of Systane once at the 1pm mark. And see if that extends the time ......if it does than maybe we are onto something...Hope it works anyway!

J,

Do not expect instant results, Systane took about a week to build up enough to lock the hydration in, now if humidity is not too low, three times a day is fine.