Corneal Graft

[jayuk]

Dipesh

Good to see the update...have you had any sutures out yet?......

I wouldnt read too much into the Topo..especially if you havent had any removed yet (sutures)

J

[Dipesh]

No sutures out yet.......the consultant I say said it needed to be considered, but because my graft was not a year old they thought they would play it safe and went til the next appointment.

Things will really get tested when we move to our new place. With duts and lifting stuff will have to be careful.

I see from your update things are looking very good.

[Dipesh]

Hi

Had a further check up yesterday, do thought I'd share once again.

I still have all 16 single stitches in the grafted eye. I thought from my last appointment in March that they'd take some out. But NO they have decided to take them all out in one hit. So will be going back in September for the day. Although I have read what the procedure entails I guess I will get apprehensive as the time gets closer.

Reading from eye chart was; 6/24 (without pinholes) on grafted eye. With pinholes I’m getting 6/12. So there is no change from before.

Also had a digital picture taken of the eye for the stitches come, am hoping they will be able to email it to me, as their printer wasn't working yesterday.

All in all I am more than happy with my progress and will be taking all necessary precautions to keep it that way.

[mohammed]

hi dipesh are you wearing glasses in the grafted eye and has it helped

im due for my 6 month post graft refraction for glasses next month so just wondering what happened with you?

[Dipesh]

mohammed,

Not wearing glasses yet as stitches are still in. I too had a refraction 6mth post graft, but wasnt given glasses. This is due to vision changing on a daily basis.

If anything the refraction will give you a good idea on how the ieye is healing.

[jayuk]

Dipesh

Just questions Id ask if I was in your shoes.....Whats the risk on removing all the sutures in one go, and how can they limit excessive changes in the corneal structure if they dont remove them one by one, or a few at a time based on Corneal Topography?..........as the changes could actually be for the worse............

Jay

[GarethB]

Jay,

You ask valid questions but I think it depends on how evenly the cornea has healed.

If the surgeon is real good the tension should be nearly even all round. The only reason for early suture removal one by one is to control any astigmatism caused by stitching the graft in.

If the surface is pretty much astigmatism free, then there is no reason to have removed any of Dipeshes stitches.

The topography should give an idea of thickness so if the graft to old cornea margin is strong and healthy the stitches are unlikely to be doing too much.

The only healing left would be the microscpic hole left by the suture which would heal in a few days on the surface and probably completly within a month.

[Dipesh]

Jay/Gareth,

Both points valid points. I did ask not so i a direct question why they wanted to take out all rather than a one pr two. But I cant remember what he said.

I guess in my mind I was ready for them to take some stitches, but when he said he'd book a day surgery slot I sort of went in quiet and lost my power to speak.

I think if I decide to think about it to much I will get more concerned. So I think I will look at it they know more than me therefore have my best interests first.

[Dipesh]

Firstly I can not believe it’s been so long since I gave my update on my graft. A lot has happened since July 06, namely I've had my stitches removed in September 06.

Follow up appt since them have shown good progression where I was reading 2/3 lines on the chart un-aided and 5 lines through pin holes. IOP pressure has been good and life was generally dandy.

About a month a go while at Moorefield’s seeing ken about I mention that my next appt today was supposed to be for fitting or sizing for a scleral lens on the my graft eye. So instead of waiting we went ahead and tried various lens, eventually they found one had good clearance from the cornea. So when I went there to today I was more than happy to try and collect the lens. All I can is wow what a difference it made. Initially it felt really weird and thought about taking it out straight away. Being a bit blurred) with the lens in. Was able to read 5 lines (albeit the final few letters

Am looking forward to increasing the wear time on the lens and hopefully be able to experiment by not wearing the lens in my left to see how mush vision I can get.

Anyway after that I went to the a consultant under Dr Gatry, the lady took my IOP again and noticed it was 21 slightly high I thought, but I put it down to wearing the lens and the not getting used to it. She said it had no bearing (to which I was sceptical) Also another factor is that I have just started a new job and the concentration level and staring at a PC has been long.

Also explored the possibility of getting glasses but the consultant mention the prescription need was strong and did not think glasses would help me. Think I will have to explore another avenue on that one, as it’s something I want to try.

Anyway enough of my rambling....

[GarethB]

Hi Dipesh,

Thanks for the update. To be honest you are the first I have heard going straight to scleral post graft or any post grfat person having a scleral lens.

Regarding PC work, HSE guidelines are that you should take regular short breaks from using VDU's rather than infrequent big breaks.

I have a timer st for 30 minutes and get up to collect stuff off a printer, top upmy glass water, put something in the post. They are all things that need doing periodically so rather than save it for the end of the day I do them as and when. Still spend overall the same time at the PC.