Surgery Scheduled for February

[dmac831]

Hello all,

Happy New Year! I have not posted in quite some time but wanted to share with you that I finally, after a first attempt in May, have rescheduled a corneal transplant surgery for this February in New York city. Some days I am very nervous, others I cannot wait!

Can anyone give me advice, things the doctors may forget to mention, things that they learned from their personal experiences. I am all ears to anyone that wants to share. Also does anybody out there know of patients who underwent a corneal graft and no longer wear contact lenses. My goal is glasses. My vision is so poor I can't see at all what I am typing in this post, just know where the keys are and then have to strain my eyes from less than a foot from the screen to review(that's how bad)...For those who have had both eyes done, how much time passed between surgeries? I know healing is based on each individual experience. I am determined to make this a success and be onto a better quality of life sooner than later.

If there is anyone out there from Ireland could you please forward a specialists' name that you know and trust. I would appreciate it greatly...

Thanks for your time. I will be in touch a lot more in the weeks to come.....

Danielle

[Andrew MacLean]

dmac

I have had two corneal transplants, and do not wear contact lenses. I see well enough to drive.

It may be that I will need to wear a lens in my left eye, but that has yet to be determined.

It is hard to know what your ophthalmologist has told you, so difficult to second guess what he or she may seem to have left out. In my experience the worst thing about either of my grafts was the anticipation! In Glasgow I was admitted to the ward on the morning of my surgery. After going through the admission procedures I met the anesthetist who asked about my apnoea; he then assured me that I would be put onto my CPAP machine immediately I was off the ventilator.

As I left the ward to be trolleyed to the OR, I was given a large box with blue friendly letters that read

HUMAN TISSUE FOR TRANSPLANT

I carried my new corneas into the Operating Room, each time.

When I recovered from the anesthetic I was already breathing through my own CPAP. fully awake I was trolleyed back to the ward where they offered me some lunch. I stayed overnight and after a clinic next day I was discharged home. After my first graft I was off work for six weeks, but after the second I did not accept a medical certificate and went back to work after a couple of days.

All the best with your surgery next month, and every good wish for 2008.

Andrew

[Michael P]

Hi Danielle.

I have no advice or information for you but would like to wish you all the best for you surgery.

I am sure you will hear from others with words of advice and wisdom.

[dmac831]

Andrew,

Thanks so much for your reply and support. Can I ask you how long ago did you have your transplants? Did you experience a lot of pain? My surgeon has told me that I will need to take a week off from work. That's all!!! You were out for 6 weeks??? I know it's a case by case basis but am I being way too ambitious in thinking I will be back to work in a week? This is my first transplant, after all......

All the best in the New Year! And I hope you don't ever need corrective lenses again!

[Andrew MacLean]

dmac

I had my first graft in December 2003 and my second in October 2006.

I was off for six weeks, but this was due to my GP not the surgeon. I rather think that my GP was being over cautions, and I am sure that I could have been back at work much quicker. Maybe he thought I'd be exerting excessive energy if he let me back before Christmas.

I had no real pain, just a little discomfort each time. My eye felt like I had forgotten to take out my contact lens.

All the best, keep us posted.

Andrew

[tim_belfast]

Hi Danielle

I've just recently had a transplant in one eye at the end of last september. Everything so far has gone well and i've never experienced any pain, just some discomfort, particularly for the first week or two whilst i was using one of the dilating eye drops - i forget its name. That made me really sensitive to light so i'd definately invest in some sunglasses. I was off work for two weeks myself but a week is probably enough, it's just nice to take it easy.... in fact i'dalso recommend stocking up on some good audio books.

I must say, i had the same experience as Andrew that posted here. When being wheeled to surgery i had a big box with HUMAN TISSUE FOR TRANSPLANT plonked on my lap. I must admit that this was a bit offputting.

Other than that, the vision in my right eye sounds alike the quality of yours. If i closed my good eye there was no way that i would be able to walk around a room. Now ive had the surgery i can do exactly that, its really quite amazing.

Also, i'm in Northern Ireland and the specialist that performed my operation was Dr Frazer at the Belfast Royal, he's a very nice man.

Best of luck for Feb.
Tim

[dmac831]

Hi Tim,

Thanks for your response. I was actually driving through Belfast last week on my way from Derry back down to West Cork. Be back to Ireland in March....

Will you be having the transplant surgery on your other eye or is your case unilateral? I guess from the sound of it most often people are pleased with their decision to have a transplant. I have tried for over 10 years with the hard lenses and all sorts and just can't bare to wear a lens anymore. Are you currently using any corrective lenses?

Keep you posted, and thanks again!!

Danielle

[tim_belfast]

Hi Danielle

Its a small world! Good to see that you'll be back in time for paddy's day!

I wont be having surgery on my other eye since the vision is very good, for now at least. Im 28 and told that it's unlikely that it will get much worse - fingers crossed. I did wear a hard lens about 11 years ago but the cone shape of my eye was so bad that it was truly awful to wear.

As for being pleased for having the transplant... i'd definately say so. I saw my surgeon last week where i had my stitches removed and was told to come off my eye drops in four weeks. If all goes well i should be back swimming in the sea by summer, which is really suprising.... no more closing my eye in the shower either! My surgeon also told me that this was one of the hardest operations he had done in some time. I must say that i was quite hesitant at times before the operation. I have an attitude of "if it aint broke, dont fix it", which although my eye was sort of broke, i could live (in compromise) without having the operation. Never the less, i'm very glad that I did!

All the best, and keep us posted.

Tim

[Asif]

my graft has been almost 3 years ago but from what i can remember the few hours after the surgery were very uncomfortable but the morning after when the bandage was removed it was feeling better. a little bit of discomfort for the first few days no pain, vision wasnt significantly better straight away, to be honest i could tell a difference except that everything was hazy. my eyes were a little light sensitive which went away after a few days. i was back to normal after a week which was a bit of a boring week. hopefully soon you'll be able to get at least 6/9 with glasses

[dmac831]

Thank you for your recent support and posts. Don't know exactly what 6/9 translates to in the States. Perfect vision here is 20/20. Based on that I am at about 20/400 in both eyes, with glasses. I am legally blind. Not too worried about the initial discomfort, am so used to it with my trial and horrors of an attempt to wear hard lenses. Vision is great but they tear apart my eyes. I'm just wishing for improved and functionable vision and a somewhat speedy recovery. From what I have heard throught this forum most transplant have been highly successful. I would even be ok wearing glasses if they would correct my vision at all.

Asif, did you have a bilateral transplant or only one eye? Thanks for your time.