Problems Post Cornea Graft

[Liam]

Hi All,

I have a problem and I would like to find out if anyone else has experienced similar problems.

I had a PK graft at the end of September 2008 and everything was fine until I moved offices in December 08. After a week of being in a cramped office with no breathing space I noticed I had an infection in my grafted eye. I went to casualty and was prescribed the usual antibiotics.

To make a long story short, I have been to casualty 3 times since then and everytime I get prescribed antibiotics, but my eye still feels dry and I have a constant feeling of something being in my eye.I am also on artificial tears. In addition, I have been off work for a week and I still have that gritty sensation even at home.

I read that after a graft your eye is prone to dry eye and I do not have any redness just that gritty feeling.

Has other graftee had a similar experience ?

Although the gritty feeling is uncomfortable I am more worried about my graft failing as constant infectioins cannot be good.

Regds,

Liam

[Andrew MacLean]

Liam, welcome to the forum.

It is good that you hve been able to stay in touch with the A and E at your ophthalmology clinic through all this; they will keep an eye on your graft to ensure that it does not become stressed.

I guess that eye infections are usually treated by topic antibiotics, and every time I have had an infection the course of chloramphenicol has done the trick.

After my grafts I have also suffered from dry eye. This seems to be treated more seriously than before, and I am now advised to apply artificial tears (I am currently using Optive) on a regular basis, and not to wait until my eyes feel dry.

Every good wish.

Andrew

[Graeme Stevenson]

Hi Liam

Sorry to hear you are have some problems post graft.

Whilst it is good you have been seen at A&E I think I would prefer to be seen again by the Ophthalmologist to confirm it is nothing more sinister than an infection.

Dry eyes are a big problem for many KC sufferers. It can be a bit of trial and error on the drops front. A very popular one amongst my KC patients is Clinitas Hydrate. It is a nice thick solution but is clear and not as sticky as Viscotears.

[GarethB]

I suffer dry eyes quite badly and it took me over six months to find the right drops for me that worked. Systane by Alcon work best in my case but I found for all eye drops I had to put them in every couple of hours during waking hours. Along with this I started to drink more fluids avoiding sqash drinks, fizzy and dieretic drinks. I mainly drank water or milk plus plent of fruit. All this seemed to help me.

I tried all eye drops for at least a week before moving on to the next one. Systane gave consistent releif from the start and as time progressed I could back of the frequency. After three months I was at the point of using drops only in the morning and last thing at night. That has been the case for over two years now.

As Graeme says, get to see you own ophthalmologist if at all possible as he'll have all your notes to refer to.

[Andrew MacLean]

Liam

I am sorry, I clearly misread your original post: I had thought that , when you said that you had been to casualty you meant that you had been to the casualty at your local ophthalmology department. This would have meant, in the case of my own experience, you would have been in touch with your ophthalmology and that your hospital notes would have been available and kept up to date.

the others are of course right. You ought to make an emergency appointment to see your ophthalmologist so that he or she can check on the health of your grafted tissue.

All the best

Andrew

[melissa]

I agree. make an appointment. In my case- i had grittiness and it was a slightly loose stitch causing irritation.
for dry eye I take FLAXSEED OIL (but can't really be sure if it works)