UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello,

This is my first post - it's great that this site exists. Congratulations to everyone involved; it has certainly been of great help to me over the past week or so.
I have a couple of questions, about possible rejection of my graft, which don't seem to have been covered elsewhere.
I'm 36 and have had KC since I was about 13.
I had a corneal graft on my left eye in January 1991.
I haven't had any problems since, except for the past few months. I had multiple sutures and they have been gradually removed, as they were causing me some discomfort. Six or seven were taken out last week and there are only two remnants left now.
I was at the hospital last week and the doctor put me on antibiotics, as well as Pred Forte, which I've been using for the last six weeks, after other sutures were taken out. I haven't had to use drops in the last 10 years, so when the doctor hinted at the possibility of rejection, I became somewhat concerned.

Anyway, my questions are these: Is there always a risk of rejection? I always thought if I got over the first two or three years, I would be grand.
To be honest, I gave up worrying about rejection more than a decade ago, and it is disconcerting to have the word mentioned to me now, so long after the graft.

Also, is there a "shelf life" for a graft? Again, in my ignorance, I believed my graft could, and would, last the rest of my days.

Finally, I gather that, if rejection does take place, that does not necessarily mean failure, but that it can be reversed, with medication.

I also realise that every case is unique and there are no guarantees of anything, but I am just looking for some guidance, generally speaking.

Thanks in advance. Great site.

Michael

Michael

Good to see you post and welcome!

To answer your Q's

Anyway, my questions are these: Is there always a risk of rejection?

Yes, however there is a current thought that the longer you have had the graft, the less chances you are to have it reject; but that does NOT mean it will not reject. The "hot" period of rejection is meant to be at the 8 month mark if memory serves me right...HOWEVER, taking sutures out, etc can increase the risk of infection and possible rejection which is why many ensure that you begin taking a Corticosteroid (FML, Maxidex etc) and also something like chloramphenical etc... as a precaution


Also, is there a "shelf life" for a graft?

Sadly No...they can last 2 weeks (very acute rejection) or they can last your entire lifetime....I would be surprised if anyone said anything other than that to be honest...

HTH

Jay

Thanks for that.

Looks like a lifetime of low level anxiety for me, so.

Hi Michael and welcome to the forum.

I will echo what Jay said.

My graft is nearly 20 years old and the only time I worry about the graft is if I get acute eye pain and prolonged redness. This has only ahppend twice, once because I had an alergic reaction to my contact lens and the second when a blood vessel burst in my eye.

Basically follow good personal hygiene and if you work near anything yucky then sensible eye protection. Any DIY that kicks up dust or working near branches just like people with normal eye sight should do, wear good quality eye protection. For the sake of a few pounds your sight is protected.

My grafts have survide working down sewers, up chimneys, on oil rigs and down the mines.

Sensible precautions to look after your eyes and they should be fine.

Michael

I have nothing to add to what jay and Gareth have posted. I just wanted to welcome you to the site.

I use Prednisolone (Pred Forte) every second day. I guess this an amost prophylactic dose to ward off the risk of rejection.

Anyway, all the best.

Yours aye

Andrew

Hi Michael and welcome. Not much to add to what's been said already, except to say yes, 95% of rejections are reversed if they happen. But the quicker they're 'caught' the better the result. So it's important to get checked out if there's any change in the appearance of the eye or in the vision (eg redness on the eye, vision becoming blurry). Both my grafts are still going strong after more than 20 yrs, despite some rejection episodes early on.
Anne

Hello there and welcome, glad that you have found us!

I have had a graft just over a year but it is a DALK so hopefully i won't get a chance of rejection but you can never tell. I would agree with what has been said here and just be very careful with hygiene etc and getting your eye checked if you have any worries.

Take care and nice to see you post!

Sweet X x X