UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Had a corneal graft Monday 7th July - eye still hazy -I went to hospital 15th July and a large part of the surface (epethelium) has not grown over. They inserted a bandage contact lens and they say it may help surface to grow. As tet (29th) no improvement.Lens very hot and uncomfortable also. Two questions
Has anyone had this as I am really worred!!
plus
Is there an internet site which goes into detail of how the epethilium grow etc. as I cannot find ansything just general blur re grafts

Casatronic

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear about this and hope the contact lens bandage helps. Do let us know how you get on with it.

I don't know if there are any good websites explaining the process of epithelial growth, although I can share my vague understanding of what is supposed to happen. The epithelium is the surface of the five layers of the cornea. The conreal epithelium originates from stem cells in an area called the corneoscleral limbus, which is basically the sort of transition zone between the scleral cells and corneal cells. The stem cells can differentiate into epithelial cells in number of stages with confusing names like 'transient amplifying cells' etc! Basically, the cells move towards the centre of the cornea from the peripheral corneoscleral limbus and amplify in number on their way to the centre of the cornea. This can either happen superficially or beneath the surface, moving towards the surface the closer they get to the centre of the cornea.

This is how I understand the epithialisation of the cornea... it may not be 100% accurate! Also, I do not know how the healing process would differ in a grafted cornea as opposed to a healthy cornea

Hope all goes well with your eye.

amarpal

thank you for that brief and mercifully lucid account of epithelial growth.

I am pretty sure that it is accurate in every detail .

Andrew