Foggy vision

[Susan Mason]

Sounds like a very valid reason for having a lie in.

Hope all goes well at your appointment.

best wishes

Susan

[John Smith]

Well, I have mixed news. By having the lie-in, the consultant did indeed manage to see the problem with the cornea. In about 2 seconds flat under the slit lamp she declared that my graft was waterlogged.

This apparently means that the endothelial cells at the back of the cornea weren't performing as they should. She did mention that this could possibly be due to the seven previous rejection episodes taking their toll

So on the offchance that there is some inflamation (which she can't see) causing the problem, I'm now supposed to be on HOURLY Pred Forte 1% drops, offset by Timolol every 12 hours and Xalatan just before bed to keep the pressure in check.

Unfortunately, my local chemist tells me that Pred Forte hasn't been made at 1% for several years, and I may have to go to Moorfields to get them to make some up. Does anyone have any experience with this? Apparently, the "standard" Pred Forte strength is 0.5%.

John

[GarethB]

John,

Glad to hear the lie in worked, sorry it was bad news you got, hopefully the treatment will help improve vision ready for Christmas.

You may have to check this with a pharmacist, but the drugs I work on during their development require a double dose if you want double strength.

For example an asthma inhaler made to deliver 50 micrograms of drug per actuation, will deliver 100 micrograms the same as one actuation of the double strength made to deliver 100 micrograms per actuation.

This is often done so the low does is for management, but the option is there for double doses to be taken where necessary as a one off until things settle again. This allows you to be within the maximum recomended daily dose thus reducing risks of side effects if there are any.

Hope that makes sense.

[John Smith]

Yes, I thought about double-dosing, but it won't be necessary, as my wonderful pharmacist just phoned - she's sourced some 1% drops for me.

[jayuk]

John

Thats exactly what I had...the rear endotheial cells werent performing as well as can be expected!...but mine did clear up...at that time I was on 6 drops a day.....

Hope yours clears up soon!

[John Smith]

Thanks very much for that, Jay - most reassuring.

It's a little spooky, too - I was also on 6 drops per day until today!

[Sweet]

John, am sorry to hear where you are, but i tihnk that it is far better now that you know so as to try to stop worrying yourself over it. Hehe, pharmacists are very helpful at times aren't they, and a really good source of info when you need it! Am glad that you didn't have to trail all the way back to Moorfields!!

I kinda have the same problem with eye drops, in that when i do nights it all gets very messed up as my days turn into nights and i never quite know when i should take them!

The day before the first night is hard, as after trying to lie in before hand, i'm not really sleeping then and so get up and wait for the shift. So this is kinda the day i guess and that i should take four hourly drops. But then the night comes, and i'm working, which then makes that the 'day' and so i need to use something overnight! The next day is ok as i'm then sleeping, but i do find the whole thing of trying to juggle when to use drops annoying at times! LOL! I kinda take it that it may be slightly better to overuse then not use them enough, and basically go a lot on how my eye feels as well.

Ggrrr so glad i only do nights every six weeks!!!!!!!

Take care, love Sweet X x X

[Susan Mason]

Hi John

Glad the lie in worked for you, sorry the news wasn't good though however, probably best you and they know now and then hopefully the treatment can correct the problem.

Fingers crossed you are back on track for xmas.

Best wishes to you.

Susan

[John Smith]

Well, I saw my consultant yesterday, and the news was not too bad

The foggy vision is still present, just as bad as before, but rather than clearing in 5-10 hours it now clears in 1-2.

My FML drops have further reduced to 3 per day, and I'm still on the Timolol to reduce pressure; it is now (just) under 20, but still a little higher than desired.

The consultant's thought is that there is a possibility that rather than having 7 rejection episodes, I've had a single one... lasting 4 years! Each time it's flared up it's knocked out a few endothelial cells, but the ones I have left are now doing a better job.

Of course, my cornea has changed shape AGAIN so I have to get new glasses, which may well only last a couple of months apparently.

I've even been told that I may be allowed back into the office, at least on reduced hours and keeping away from a screen as much as possible

As one of my friends put it though, I'm left with a cornea which is a bit of a lemon, and a new one may not have been so bad. Still, at least I'm spared the knife for a while yet

[jayuk]

....thats one heck of a rejection!...Do you think thats the case as well?...one long episode lasting four years?......