UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Just need to come on hear and moan like Eyore. Hope you don't mind!

My background is that in December 2006 I had a graft on my right eye. It was doing very well, but then in July last year I awoke in a dream-like state and thumped the eye HARD - enough to split the graft and knock out the lens part of my eye.

From then until this January the eye was just left to heal. Then I was fitted with a new contact lens, which is as big as my iris.

Without the contact lens I just see shades and colours. My left eye is very good so my brain presents me with distorted double vision as obviously it cannot join the two images. When the contact lens is in, it corrects my vision well enough to join the images into one. Though if I were to look just using the right eye I cannot read that well.

Although when I am at the hospital, I can read up to three lines from the bottom with a contact lens in. It is just that normal everyday wear does not give that good a result! Some parts of the vision are good, others poor depending how I tilt my head!

Since last Saturday I have had a sore right eye. I had appointments at the hospital today with the contact lens specialist and the "cornea team" so just left my contact lens out until today. It turns out I have a dry eye and also an infection so am on antibiotic drops for 2 weeks and have eye drops for when I feel dry.

I asked to be considered for a lens implant to replace the one I knocked out. They asked me to go back in 6 weeks when the eye will be better and then they will consider it. I really, really want them to proceed with this. It is all very well on paper that I can read so far down the chart, but even on a good day I can only wear the contact lens for 6-7 hours. The rest of the time I live in a distorted world. I feel they need to consider the physcological factors too.

My contact lens specialist agrees and said I really need to push them. He said after an implant I could probably live with the remaining astigmatism, though of course he could not guarantee I may still need a contact lens. The point is that now, when I am not wearing a contact lens, my brain cannot help my eyes and join images together.At least with a lens implant the vision would be improved to the extent it was post-graft in December 06-July 07 which was amazing for me.

That's my moan over. Also, does anyone know how long you take anti-rejection drops for? I am still on prednisolone 3 times a day almost a year after the re-suturing.

Gosh, Craig - what a story!
Can't offer any practical suggestion, only best wishes, and hope that things start to look up soon (if you'll pardon the expression).
Feel free to come and moan here whenever you feel the need. eeyore-like or otherwise - and if you really want to feel like Eeyore, I know plenty of thistles that need eating!
Rosemary

Shame Craig- that bit about bumping your graft gave me cold shivers down my spine.
I also have experience of my vision being adequate/good in the doctors rooms, but not so good in reality. My opthalmologist says that the test is just a guide. for me- i had a scar which interferred with my vision in reality, but for some reason in the controlled space it was not so sever. i imagine it had to do with light coming from the side in the REAL world.... anyway i had to insist that my vision was not acceptable for ME..... remember that every person is different, and my minimum acceptable vision was maybe hjigher than normal. my life would be shattered if I could not drive- there is no public transport and I drive a lot for my work- changing careers was NOT an option and I just had to take the next step...
Dry eye--> I take Flaxseed Oil caps (available at health shops and some pharmacies)- I believe they have helped-- but obviously don't have any proof.... the way I see it- they are not too expensive and are good for your body overall anyway- so there is no harm.
Good luck

Craig

Keep using the prednisolone until they tell you to stop. I was on steroids for over two years after my first graft and for nearly two years after my second.

Too bad about your lens, but I must say that after my lens implant (occasioned by a cataract in my previously grafted eye) I noticed an immediate and persistent improvement in my sight. Keep pushing!

All the best

Andrew