UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Well, my final 11 stitches are finally out of my DALKed eye. The topography machine still can't manage to work it's magic on that eye unfortunately, but at least (after 13 months post-op) it recognises that there is an eye in front of it.

I'm getting quite used to seeing pictures of my eye with "ERROR" written over them!

The removal process was a little better this time. I was careful to take my own "personal nurse" with me (and thanks again) and although I was a little woozy, finally managed NOT to faint! Same process as before though - sitting at the slit lamp, and wishing I could be somewhere else!

The first 9 stitches came out easily enough, but number 10 took an amount of tugging - which is what made me woozy; but as I was working out what was going on, number 11 was out too, and it was all over.

Unfortunately though, my consultant diagnosed a bout of blepharitis (has anyone else had this?) - so I'm currently on antibiotics for that as well as different antibiotics for the cornea's 11 holes!)

I go back in a month for a trial refraction. Hope it's good news - before the stitches were removed, my left (DALKed, 2006) eye was better unaided vision than my right (PK, 2001) eye - and I get 6/12 with specs (but only part of the day) with the right! I hope that this is a good sign, as I don't really want to be wearing contacts unless I have to - after the 2001 graft, it seems that my new right cornea is somewhat intolerant of the RGP sclerals I had for a while.

Just waiting for the pain to subside now. It's still rather unbearable at times. Still, it should be ok soon, based on previous experience.

I get Blephiritis. Usually a little dose of antibiotics clears it up.

Also, I use a small quantity of baby shampoo diluted in luke warm water to clean my eyelids (feels every bit as bad as it sounds. You take a cotton bud (one of the things that you are never supposed to stick in your ear), dip it in the solution of baby shampoo and gently stroke it along the rim of your eyelid. This takes away all the bits of skin that most people would remove with a routine eye-rub but which graftees have to leave alone (if they remember NOT to rub).

When you'be got Blephiritis, you would probably be better to wait for that to clear up before you start trying to prevent the next onset.

By the way, I think if they removed sutures in Glasgow while we were sitting at the slit lamp, I'd have chosen to hold onto mine! Fortunately we are taken into the theatre and spend an agreeable ten minutes being entertained by all the banter in the OR and listening to nice music.

The eye is bathed in anesthetic eye drops but the one thing that makes it less than perfect is when the surgeon has to tug at a reluctant suture and one's vision goes all wobbly

Andrew

John

I am probably being incredibly stupid and I did have a very late night.

I am not sure what was done to which eye when and with what result but I hope the outcome will be good following the removal of the stitches and of course I hope the blephwotsit clears up quickly

No doubt your own personal nurse will be giving you first rate treatment!

Hey well done john .you are more brave than me.

John,

Hehe I am glad that everything went well and you were lucky that I had a day off to come with you!! I will be sending you my bill in the post, hehe you know how expensive private nursing can be!! LOL!!! Will your insurance pay do you think??!!! LMAO!!!!

Take care and don't forget the eye drops!!! Love Sweet X x X

Glad you got through it Ok John. I just have to admire the courage of your Nurse!!

Hehehe thanks Pat!!! LOL!!!