UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi from a new member! I'm waiting to have a PK next month and have read all the problems people have experienced with some trepidation... does anyone have any cheery stories?

Rob

Rob

Welcome to the forum. I have had a PK (first graft, Right eye) and a DALK (second graft, left eye).

With glasses, I can see well enough to drive. Before my first graft I was legally blind.

It does take a bit of time for your eye to heal and for good sight to return, so don't expect have sight as good as mine the day after you get out of hospital

Did your surgeon say why he or she was thinking about a PK instead of a DALK?

All the best

Andrew

i have only had one eye grafted (pk), my left which was the wosrt of the two at the time. i could just count fingers before the graft, but could see 6/6 with rgps but could not tolerate them after wearing them for a few years. after the graft my vision was fluctuating a lot so wouldnt get a stable refraction until after 18 months. my vision immediately after was no better but after 3-4 weeks i could the the top line (6/60) and after 6 months a could see 6/24. after about a year and a half my vision was 6/18 and could see 6/9 with glasses though was still a bit of ghosting and distortion.

no sutures were removed unless they were loose, when they were remvoved they made my vision worse so after 2 years some sutures were removed to try and make my vision better but didnt help. i still have a few sutures left. its now almost 3 years since the graft and my vision has reduced after sutures were removed, now 6/60, but can see 6/6 with glasses and 6/4 with rgps. the rgps are a lot more comfortable as the nerve fibres are cut during a graft so lens tolerance is generally better. there is some ghosting and distortion with glasses though when i need crisp vision when i'm working i wear the rgp lens. my vision is a lot more stable now aswell.

i am happy i had the graft, but took two and a half years until i got the vision i needed, although still not great with glasses, and i hope it doesnt get worse.

Thanks for your replies. Andrew - apparently I can't have lamellar surgery due to the level of scarring. I really just wan't to get on with the operation now - even with a very tight fitting and painful scleral lens i can only get to 6/36 with my right eye, and i rely on stereoscopic vision for work.

Can i also just say how nice it is to feel part of a community sharing similar problems - this forum is doing a great job and is much appreciated!

Rob

Robcom

Thank you for your kind comments about the forum.

All the best with your surgery. I have never regretted having had mine.

Andrew

Hi Robcm,
I am 9 weeks post PK and am so glad I did it after years of suffering with lenses and ulcers and scars. My vision was no better for about 2 weeks, and then improved rapidly to 6/12 now (uncorrected) which is unusually good. I have been warned not to expect that to stay the same, but am really enjoying it. I was on a skiing holiday last week and can honestly say my transplanted eye gave me WAY less trouble than the other with piggy-back lenses- and the vision is actually better in the 'new' eye.
i don't regret it for a moment (but that is also because i know i was ready and had NO other options). research and asking lots of questions makes a lot of difference

Thanks Melissa- brilliant story and just what i wanted to hear! I recently came back from a monocular ski adventure which wasn't much fun and helped persuade me that grafting was the only way forward. I'll be delighted if my outcome is half as good as yours,

Rob