due to have a graft on 5 October HELP

[been]

Hi everyone

My name is Shabeena, and I am new to this website. I have kerataconus in both eyes, but my left eye is much worse and I have not been able to wear a lens in that eye at all, therefore relying on my right eye for everyihing. I am due to have a graft in a few weeks at Moorfields and don't really know what to expect. If anyone can tell me about the surgery, what it involves, how long it takes, is it unmfortable or painful, during and after the surgery, will I be able to see afterwards, will it be painful afterwards. and how long it takes to heal, also anything else you can tell me would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks, and I look forward to receiving a few replys.

Shabeena

[Andrew MacLean]

Shabeena

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry that other measures seem to have failed and that you are now on the final approach to your graft.

That said it is worth reflecting that there is now more than a century of experience of the cornea transplant operation and in a hospital like yours the staff will have accumulated many years of personal experience of grafting cornea tissue.

These days most surgeons default to the DALK (partial thickness) graft. They would only offer a PK (full thickness) graft if there were additional clinical I dicators. I had a PK in my right eye a d DALK in my left.

In Glasgow they admit patients early on the morning of their operation. After being clerked into the ward and having conversations with Anesthetists etc. they send us to the theatre with a large cardboard box that contains our new cornea.

Plunged I t a deep sleep by the administration of a general anesthetic we wake up in the recovery roo
and are returned to the ward in time for lunch. Patients who live nearby are allowed to go home, but as I live a distance from the hospital, I was kept in overnight so that I could conveniently attend the eRly clinic on day 1.

Do not expect to be able to see on the first day. It may be some mo tbs before good vision returns.

All the best.

Andrew

[tneedham]

Hi Shabeena.

I asked all the same questions last year, mine was done on the 13th oct 1998
I'm sorry that you have to go down the graft route, not being able to see at all out of that eye is awful to go through and i think the graft will give you a completely new lease of life.

Maybe the following link might help, these are the questions my partner and i asked in the month lead up to my graft, and the very helpful and positive replies i got back from the members of the group.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4497

Good luck

Tom

[crakerjacker]

Hi

I had my graft in january and began an online diary of it. It is http://www.mycorneatransplant.blogspot.com

Take a look, you will need to scroll down the page to the bottom and click 'older posts' as the latest update starts at the top.

All the best for the 5th

[rosemary johnson]

Hall Shabeena and welcome.
SOrry to hear you've got to the graft stage.

I presume you have bbeen given the cahnce to try the various types of lenses - including the new ones availale now that have worked for some people who didn't get on with the older types.
And been able to discuss options such as itacs or CXL.

As regards a graft - it will depend a bit on who your consultant is, also whether you are having a local or general anaesthetic.
Recovery may depend on whether it is a full thickness (PK) or partiall thickness (DALK) graft.

First, you should have a pre-op assessment appointment.
Have you had this yet?
If not - do use it to ask lots of questions.
The pre-op clinics are "nurse led". They do lots of tests, ask you lots of questions about your medical history, and tell you when and where to come and what to do.
YOu can ask to talk to an anaesthetist if yo.
.
The different consultants have different days and am/pm theatre sessions.
DO you have a time for your op?
BTW - you won't see one of those boxes that Andrew describes.
Well, you might if you sit in the hospital main reception and watch for courriers arriving.Those boxes are what the corneas arrive in from the Eye Bank (in Bristol).
Moorfields unpack athem and do their own testing before they get anywhere near a patient!
If Andrew has seen the courrier-carriage boxes, presumably Gartnavel don't.....
More in next message - computer problems
Rosemary

[Andrew MacLean]

If Andrew has seen the courrier-carriage boxes, presumably Gartnavel don't.....
Rosemary

An understandable assumption, but an assumption nonetheless!

Andrew

[space_cadet]

Will be thinking of you, post any questions, quires, concerns, whatever time day or night and someone will answer (trust me I have posted enough ARGH! rants over the last few months at obscure times of the day and night and the kindness and genuineness of this community is what has prevented me from going totally crazy since being initially dx and just told the name to a confirmation diagnoses last month and asked to their and then sign consent forms for my right eye)

Keep us informed as to how you are getting on.

Lea
xox

[rosemary johnson]

If Andrew has seen the courrier-carriage boxes, presumably Gartnavel don't.....
Rosemary

An understandable assumption, but an assumption nonetheless!

Andrew

Well, yes, they could repack the boxes, of course.
I don't know what Gartnavel do, but I rather gather Moorfields is in the minority in doing all their own teting - and indeed in having the facilities on site to do so.
But we digress from Shabeena's question....
Rosemary

[been]

Thanks everyone for your posts.

Can anyone tell me what to expect after the surgery, in terms of vision, pain, what pain relief is given (is this enough), how long before I can see well enough to drive etc Can I swim after my surgery and any addition info you can give.

Thanks again.

Shabeena

[Andrew MacLean]

The honest answer is that all these things vary from individual to individual.

On swimming; be guided by your ophthalmologist.

On driving; notify the DVLA. You may actually be legal to drive right away; it depends on your other eye and the way in which your new cornea proceeds to 'heal' onto the host tissue of your eye.

After your surgery there will be a series of appointments. If you are in any doubt, ask each time about driving.

All the best.

Andrew