Graft suggested, what to do...........

[Andrew MacLean]

I was a student when my KC was first identified, in my thirties when a graft was first spoken about, and 52 when I lost my sight and agreed to go ahead with the graft.

Gareth is right. I am now 59, which is one year short of being venerable!

Andrew

[Anne Klepacz]

Hi Martin,
By Andrew's definition, I am now 'venerable' but I had my grafts when I was 38 (1st eye) and 40 (2nd eye). This, of course, was in the days before other options for KC, and even before scleral lenses were made of gas permeable material and could be mass produced, so I wasn't even offered that option when the normal corneal rgps no longer worked for me. But in one respect I was lucky, because I didn't need to agonise over my decision - it was clear to me that I couldn't cope much longer with the sight I had so I was very happy to be offered a graft.
And my KC was advanced in both eyes, making the decision even easier.
I don't know if you're on our mailing list but you might find the DVD of our 2005 conference helpful. It includes a talk from one of the Moorfields consultants entitled 'When to offer surgery to KC patients' and he listed all the pros and cons of transplant surgery. If you haven't seen this and would like to, just e-mail me your postal address and I'll send it to you.
anne@keratoconus-group.org.uk
Anne

[private104]

Venerable Anne; hmmmmmm, it has a certain ring to it. Almost Venerable Andrew; that works too

[GarethB]

Perhaps I should have said Andrew is only just young enough to be a father to us

Sure Andrew will get his own back

[Andrew MacLean]

... when you least expect it!

I guess that anyone over 30 has to be demi- or hemi- venerable! This could get complicated, maybe the next post should be back on topic

[rosemary johnson]

Now, where I grew up, calling someone "Venerable" meant they were an Archdeacon.
Don't know if Andrew's particular kirk has any archdeacons in residence, let alone whether he'd regard it as a suitable promotion.
He would have to have been a pretty precocious young buck to have been mmy father - I'm 47! Unless he'd like to become a Catholic-style Father Andrew....
For the record (and slightly nearer to topic) diagnosed with KC at age 13 or 14, straight into scleral lenses at 14. First heard a graft may be onthe cards at 18 when I had my first hydrops. Finally had first graft age 46 (depsite hospital aging me 10 years ont he paperwork they sent back to the Eye Bank; I'm not really 56!) Will regret it for ever. Second graft, offered at same time as both eyes in much the same state, now not ever likely to be possible.
Rosemary

[Andrew MacLean]

No, in Scotland "venerable" just means "accorded a great deal of respect especially because of age".

Rosemary, you are still some way from becoming venerable on the grounds of age, but I reckon you are there on the grounds of wisdom or generosity. Your experience of living long with KC before your first graft may be something of a record, and has given you a vast experience from which you have oftendrawn in offering support to others.

The frank way in which you have posted about the difficulties with which you have had to deal during the early stages of your recovery has taken us on a walk with you; and this has been a gift beyond price for us all.

Andrew

[MartinC]

email sent Anne - thank you for the offer.

I'm not getting into the age discussion though, I really haven't been here long enough to risk upsetting anyone yet!!

[rosemary johnson]

Andrew, thanks for htose kind words. I don't know I deserve them - I just try to struggle on somehow and inf dit a great help to be able to let off steam with fellow kCers here.
I doubt if many of us will claim to be quite as venerable as the, ah, mature gentleman I remember meeting at one of the early London group meetings, in the old Moorfields board room. He was telling us all about the glass scleral lenses he used to wear and had worn for years. His main description of them was "heavy".
I don't think he'd ever had a graft but was still wearing sclerals. Not, so far as I remember, glass ones though.
I shall certainly be doing quite well if I get to the state of graft venerability as a lady I once met being a fellow-guinea pig at an optometrists' trainging day. SHe grafts were 40 and 42 years old. The assembled compan looked at her in amazement and one of our number said she must have had them done very young. She made out he was a terrible flatterer - but if she'd said she was 38 I'd certailny have believed her.
I got a chance to have a look at them down a slit lamp - no difference I could tell between graft and surround, just a thin circle visible under the slit lamp.
Rosemary

[davesingh1]

hi martin

i've have had a graft done in my left eye this month and the outcome was a success, i would recomend it to everyone if needs be.....
(read my first post)
if you can only see the first letter on the chart then it wont be long before you cant, your consultant is right in what he says.

the team i used was brilliant, i went private the consultant is a prof and is probally one of the best guys in the uk to do it, as KC is what he specializes in he has wrote books, worked all over the world etc 10/10, if you want some extra info send me a msg, i'll give you his details.

dave singh
peterborough