pascalini graft update

[Pascalini]

hi im 27 and had KC in both eyes for as long as i can remember- maybe around 18-19

I had the full graft in the left eye 11 weeks ago after making the huge decision that somthing had to be done now as fitting a lens in my eye was becoming impossible.

of course i was naturally terrified but knew it had to be done really as i couldnt of gone on like i did although i managed to get through university- god knows how as my vision was awful but i managed to get through with only my best mate knowing i had KC -just never wanted to be looked at as a special case. The amount of times my lenses have dropped out in clubs etc and ive tried to act like it isnt the worst thing that could happen when i know to most of us its a great loss lol

i came on here b4 the operation with many questions and 11 week after mine i'd like to share my experiance-

the day of my operation i was calmer than i though and was taken into hospital by family. as they said ther goodbyes i started to get mor nervous as the reality set in. i was in a room with two older men who wer having similar operations and couldnt believe i was having the same at my young age.

slept fine that night and the day of the operation was here- i was a bit dazed as i knew it was a big thing and couldnt quite take it in. as the nurse called me to go in i walked to the room with her and led on the bed- they then sent me to sleep. that was it - kind of a good thing really as i knew i wouldnt have to go through the operation and that when i woke up it would be over

[Pascalini]

when i woke up i was obviously coming round from the operation but the 1st thing i tried to do was lift my patch up and see if i could see better lol

wow i was so groggy after the op i didnt take general anaethetic like a real man should lol but it was nothing really i was just so groggy and tired after which was maybe a good thing as all i wanted to do was sleep.

luckily after i had family come and see me and they sat with me. my eye was constantly watering which worried me but the nurse said it was normal. as the evening passed i manged to get out of bed to go to the toilet and lifted my patch up for a sneaky peek and i was pleasantly suprised that i could see a bit - it took away all that terrible blurryness that u get from bad KC. site wasnt great but as i looked out of the window i could see a nurse in the building oposite with the grafted eye --------that night i started to feel a bit better and ended up going to watch tv with the older gentleman just to make myself tired.

the next day after having an amazing sleep i was woken up by the nurse who applied a new patch and eye drop. i noticed all the eye watering had gone and later was told i could go home in the afternoon- the last thing i had to do was see the doctor.

[Pascalini]

that afternoon my father came to take me home- i couldnt wait to get home- once i got home my vision felt so uneven between the two eyes and it was hard to focuss. but was still amazed at what the operation did to my eye. people could only realli see my stitches wen they got very close up and in certain light which is good as you dont want to look odd lol

i have to say that week i didnt have pain in the eye it was just a bit uncomfortable which is expected. i had an incident later that week tho wer i got upset and shed a few tears which my my eye start throbbing so the next day i went to the hospiatl and he said it was fine i guess it was just a bit early to start the tears as the initial healing was taking place.

it was wierd as everynite my vision seemed to get alot better then wen i woke up it would vanish again- i didnt know wat that was.

gradually over the next few weeks the unbalance in vision that i told you about started to dissapear and even up- im not sure what the problem was i think its astigmatism dont quote me on that tho.

as more weeks wer passing well around the 8th week ther was absolutly no redness and i could see 2 lines off the chart with my grafted eye which was exactly the same as what i could get b4 with a lens in it so thats a real big difference.

the next visit to hospital i was feeling a little itchy in my eye and it was reavealed i had a lose stitch so he needed to take it out. this was no big deal atall as i couldnt even feel him do it. he said it was no problem as i have another 15 stitches in ther to rely on lol

i asked him if ther was any chance of going back to the gym which is a big deal to me and he said not to for a bit yet- i guess my eye is more important than my weight at this stage.

on a recent visit to my hopital i could now see 3 lines on the chart thats 9 weeks after my operation which was an amazing improvment but its not just about what line i could see its that everything is clearer with no double vision and i think colours are more richer too. my doctor said the pressure was high in my eye so he has put me on lighter steroid drops so im only doing 3 drops in total a day. i would even worry about doint the drops it doesnt bother me atall as its only like putting solution on your lens like most KC people have to do 3 times a day anyhow. drops are easy to do.

so here i am now almost 12 weeks afetr op and i visited my contact lens fitter today she did a quick check of my eye and i can see 4 lines down and almost the next line- that is amazing. she even did a check at what vision i will get if i decided to wear glasses (which is not a great idea as ur eyesight will change alot but i could see almost the bottom line so the future looks bright. i rarely have any pain well nothin compared to them blasted thick lenses. in the morning my eye feels reali dry but im guessing thats just the stitches cus they have had no moisture on them.

i dont know what the future holds for my eye but i hope this encourages you as most of the stories i read b4 my op scared my. but it reali isnt bad atall i cant wait to get my next eye done and i would not say that if it wasnt worth the bother. id also like to say if u can try and get 12 weeks off work i reali needed that time off to keep my eye safe and get my confidence up i now feel ready to rumble lol

every case may be differnet tho so dont go tatally off what my experiances wher im just here to tell my story

i will be back in to say how things go in the future hope this helps sum1

[Pascalini]

soz about the spelling im not very good at writing stories i did it quickly without reading it through lol

[Pascalini]

im just goin to add things that i forgot----

i also sufferd with light after the op i couldnt bare to look outside that starts to go though i doesnt even bother me now 11 weeks after the operation

[Karl R]

Hi pascalini and welcome to the forum.

Thank you for the operation diary, it will be useful to others to read about your experience with a graft.

The light sensitivity will pass with time, I can't say how long it will take as that is down to the individual - mine took 6 weeks to fully settle down after the INTACS. Get yourself good pair of shades to help with this.

Please keep this thread updated as you go along, and as for spellins mostakes.....Pah don't worry

Karl

[Andrew MacLean]

Hello Pascalini and welcome.

Thank you for your detailed diary. Keep us posted with how things are going for you.

Andrew

[GarethB]

Pascalini,

For most people the future with grafts is good and carry on with life so you would never know they had a graft.

Mine are 20 years old now and still going strong, there are people here with grafts over 30 years old and cope fine.

Good luck with the healing process and for the future.

[Matthew_]

Hi,
This has been really useful, thanks for sharing it with us; I have a graft next month so this really helps. I am not having a full thickness graft, so I am not sure if it is similar or not in terms of recovery etc. My letter says its a Day Hospital job, is that right? Or will I be staying ovenight? The letter very much implies I will be straight home. I've also had no advice so far on time off work etc. Can anyone fill me in?

[GarethB]

Matthew

The intention is a partial graft and a day visit. As with any operation there are risks, so you will stay in if there are complications which I understand are rare. If scaring is found or other damage to the deeper layers of your cornea the DALK can turn into a PK, but again my understanding is this only happens occasionally.

So in a nut shell you will be in for the day for a DALK.