UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello all,

I am a 32 year old keratoconus who achieves very good vision with RGP lenses. However, I suffer very bad allergic reactions to the lenses and as a result have been offered the option of having DALK (Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty) surgery.
This seems to be an excellent option and would appear to offer me the chance to achieve my dream (and I don't use that word lightly) of a life without constant lens problems. Even the opportunity to live wearing lenses which did not cause huge discomfort would be fantastic.
Can anyone offer me advice on going through with this treatment? Particularly doctors or those of you who have been through the procedure. I have read the possible risks but they seem to be fairly well mitigated.

Many thanks in advance for your support.

Geoff

Hello Geoff and welcome to the forum,
Did you see this thread just one page back about a recent graft? viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16146 Slightly more eventful than usual(!) but as the poster says, we all have our ups and downs.
And further back on this forum, you'll find quite a few other accounts. My grafts were the full penetrating (PK) ones. As I'm sure you've read, the advantage of the partial graft (DALK) is that there is a much lower risk of rejection and they're likely to last much longer. But most people will still need correction, and often with contact lenses, after a graft. Have you ever tried any other type of lens apart from the standard rgp? Do the medics know whether your allergic reaction is to the lens material or whether you'd have the same reaction whatever the type of lens? There are quite a few different lenses that can be used for KC, including mini and semi scleral lenses from different manufacturers. So it might be worth investigating whether changing lenses could solve the problem without the need for surgery at this stage. If you'd like a copy of our information booklet on KC, do e-mail me your postal address and I'll send it to you anne@keratoconus-group.org.uk