UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hello and greetings to my fellow KC carriers.....I sure wish I'd found this place and all of you several years ago. I thought I was all alone in the wilderness of multiple vision, eye pain, and confusion. Now, I am headed to surgery for a transplant, my first, on Thursday morning. I'll look forward to asking lots of questions after.....wish I'd been here earlier and could have asked lots of questions already.

Piper

good luck.
There are some very helpful and knowledgeable people here who have been through surgery. I am sure they will be able to help you with the next few days and weeks.
All the best.

Hi Piper

Good luck with your surgery. I hope it all goes well for you.

Hi Piper

good luck, I'm suer we will be talking more later
Brigid

Thanks everyone. I was first told I'd be having a PK then yesterday on the phone they casually mentioned that the operating room was scheduled for a Lammellar (sp?) . I understand there is a major difference between the two. Should I be concerned that they have changed the game plan? I reallly need good, clear, focused vision for my work when I am healed. Do the Lammellar grafts every really let a person focus clearly? I hope to wear contacts again for basic correction. Is this normal?

Yes......I'm nervous and apprehensive...probably about like all of you were. Thanks again.

Piper

Piper

PK is the fall back position; sometimes they start out to do a DALK and decide during the operation that a PK is more appropriate. I had a PK in my right eye nearly three years ago. I am listed for a DALK on Friday, so as you are having peeled grapes fed to you by the lovely nurses in your hospital, I shall be heading for the operating theatre in mine.

All the best tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you.

Andrew

good luck piper, hope all goes well

sarah
x

Good luck Piper.

A Lamellar graft will take longer to optically heal than a "full thickness" penetrating graft, and may not give quite the vision eventually (though many do - noone can tell in advance unfortunately).

The advantages of a DALK (lamellar) graft are huge though - a shorter recovery time from the surgery and a much reduced risk of rejection - almost zero or exactly zero depending on the technique used.

Do keep in touch; we'd love to hear how you get on.

Andrew, as WE head into eye surgery, the thought of PEELED GRAPES is not appetizing!!

Funny, though. Actually, mine is outpatient, as are most surgeries in the USA...and I will be riding about 2-miles across the City of New Orleans to a friends house to spend the night and motor back to the Doctor on Friday for a check up. Then back to work on Saturday, I guess.

I am hoping for good visual accuity, and will be happy to wear RGPs if that will do it. As a full time professional violinmaker I truly depend on my close-up vision. Otherwise, I'll have to get a job packing bags in the Walmart Superstore.

Best of luck to you, new friend. We're all in this together.

Cheers,

Piper

Piper,I hope all went well this morning and look forward to hearing from you again soon.