due to have a graft on 5 October HELP

[Anne Klepacz]

Hi Shabeena
In terms of pain and vision, as Andrew says, these tend to vary a lot between individuals. But I think it's true to say that most people don't experience pain after the op - rather a bit of discomfort in the grafted eye for a few weeks, with the eye being more light sensitive and a bit sticky and 'gunky'. Vision tends to improve slowly over 6 months or more, and you won't really know what your final vision with the grafted eye will be until after all the stitches come out which is usually 12 to 18mths after the op. But you've probably been relying heavily on the other eye anyway if you're at the stage of needing a graft, so you shouldn't be any worse off in terms of vision immediately after the graft. All the best!
Anne

[melissa]

Hi Shabeena,
it is clear that each individual has a slightly different experience. i would suggest that you expect some pain for the first few days (although it will most likely be manageable with low-level painkillers). expect light sensitivity for a few weeks and i would suggest that you plan to be at home for 2 weeks. it may be easier for you and then it will be a pleasant surprise. don't expect decent vision until the stitches are all removed- but that time varies dramatically- mine was 9 months.
activities- you will need to be guided by your doctor as it depends on how the graft is healing for you...
good luck... let us know more...
Melissa

[rosemary johnson]

Hi again Shabeena,
YOu will be told at the pre-op appointment that you can never swim again for the rest of your life.
(Unless, they add in brackets, you have guaranteed-waterproof goggles.)
Pain after the op: people vary - unless something has gone badly wrong, you'll be sent hope the same day, and they'll ask you what pain relief you normally use (for headaches, etc).
If you say something like "aspirin, neurofen, paracetamol, they'll tell you, if you feel in pain, just have some of that.
MOst people say it is more "uncomfortable" that very apinful, but people vary.
You'll have to go back to Moorfields the following afternoon, to the ward, for your first checkup.
It tends to feel more like, can't wait to get this contact lens out, had it in too long..... thn you realise there isn't a contact lens.
How much you can see - at the end of the op, they will shut your eye, place a dressing over it, and tape a plastic shield across to keep the dressing in place.
They'll take this off at the follow day's appointmnet.
You'll also get your eye dros and instructions on using them, plus a letter to take to your GP, and an appointment for the following week.
You'll keep the shield, to tape in place eg. when you go to bed, to keep th eye protected from the pillow, duvets, etc.
I found the first evening I could open the grafted eye crack an d peek out from under the corner of the shield/dessing.
By the next morning, it was stuck shut - the nurse that afternoon cleaned the goo away and gave me instructions on doing this for the next few days.
Vision - this varies!
Normal situation is it takes a year-18 months for the eye to stop changing shape and the vision to settle down.
Most people/places won't try to fit you with lenses or glasses till them, as you'd need new ones every couple of weeks.
SOme people find th vision gradually improves - I think I'm I'm unusual in that I had very sharp vision at about 32 range aout a week after the op, and it has been getting more astigmatic ever since.
Sorry, 3 inches range that should be!
As you're at Moorfields, , it may be possible to see if you get be refeerred to the famous and celebrated Ken and his "early sclerals " project.
SOme of the consultants at Moorfields are very supportive of this; others maybe less so.
Driving - depends if your other eye is OK for your to drive in at present. If not, don't reckon to be able to drive until you've got new lneses (or glasses) which could be a year-19 months on.
Hope this helps - d ask if you want to know any more.
Rosemary

[rosemary johnson]

SHabeena, some more answers.
Hping the computer doesn't freeze and lost them this time.
A graft op takes about two hours. Depending how well it goes, how nice and neat a cone-shape you have, etc.
(That's for a PK; not sure if a DALK is longer or not.)
As for pain and what you can see during the op-

- does this mean you are expecting the op under loal? - if you are having a general anaesthetic, you shouldn't be able to see, hear or feel anything until you wake up!
If you're under local - I'm told that the local anaesthetic injection goes right into the optic nerve (or the eye to be grafted) and you won't see anything at all out of that eye other than a very very vague blur.
I'm told also that having bringht lights shining at you for the duration is not normally a problem.
They put a cover over your other eye to protect it. I think I've heard this is slanted so you could peer down at your toes but not up at the surgeon (and the lghts).
When I was due for my graft, they told me that the anaesthetic they ued was something called xylocaine, which was the same stuff as my dentist uses (adrenaline-free version for the eye op, and for me at the dentist as I react badly to it.)
This may no longer be the case, as I gather from the dentist's practice manager that xylocaine is hard to get recently.
You'll be able to talk to the team during te op - - assuming the surgeon doesn't insisnt on you being shot up with so much sedative you can't string a sentence together, that is!
(If you have any experience of sedatives and think this might be a problem -
... you may have toe firm about resisting this - and be aware that some surgeons who I won't name here will not be at all happy, and may either refuse to operate or try to coerce you into eithe rthe sedatives or to having a general after all.
Other surgeons do grafts under local as a matter of course and aren't too bothered about sedatives.
Good luck on this one, hope you won't need it.
ANway, I was saying.... if you feel the local start to wear off - like a dentist's jab starting to wear off, - say so, and the anaesthetist can top up the anaesthetic a bit.
I'm told they CAN turn the right lights down a bit if they hurt - but only a bit.
If ou're having a general, can only say I hope and trust you'll get on far better than I did ! - I'm sure you will, as my adverse reaction must be uncommon.
They'll pbe using something called "TIVA" where the anaesthetics and other drugs all go intravenously - all in the back of your had -
unsing propofl as in Michael Jackson fame, remifentanil, a dose of steroids intravenously as an anti-emetic (supposed to stop you being horribly sick when you come round), and other painkillers and anti-emetics.
I've no idea what they may use as a pre-op sedative if you don't flatly refose to have any such thing.
Nor what happens if you do get given one.
WIll write more about op day if you like but in separate message in case PC plays up again.
Rosemary

[Loopy-Lou]

I've always been told NOT to swim. I know everyone draws the line at different points which I respect, but I would suggest at waiting a couple of months post surgery, and then if really want to get some high quality googles and avoid diving

[GarethB]

I never had restrictions on swimming, but when I do go I wear a good quality swim mask that keeps the watre out and means I can wear lenses while swimming.

A good thing to have post op for when you have a shower and wash your hair and it is important to keep water and so o out of your eyes.

[tneedham]

I was told by my consultant that swimming in the sea is fine as it is quite clean. swimming in a urine and chlorene filled swimming pool is not!
There are a few pools that use Salt or Ozone as watre treatment, these are better for you.

[rosemary johnson]

It would seem from precious discussions on thiese fora that different consultants five different advice on swimming.
ANd, of course, it is up to each of us to follow or otherwise our consultant or hoospital's advice.
Shabeena's hospital's line is - or was not very l ong ago - to tell one at the pre-op appointment never to go swimming again for the reest of one's life unless one has guaranteed-waterproof goggles on. I'd be interested to know if they've now changed that....
Rosemary