UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Had a post-graft checkup today and discussed the possibility of an artifical lens implant for the lens I knocked out in my accident last year.

The consultant will do it, but he pointed out a few possible risks. All my stitches would have to be removed first so they could take final measurements before ordering the graft. This removal could cause infection/rejection. Then when they insert the lens they have to work very close to the cornea, so again the risk of infection/rejection and also bleeding.

Also after the op, my astigmatism could be worse and off the scale so not correctable even by contact lenses.

Of course, everything could go fine!

I don't know whether to have part-time vision as I do now or take a chance. Tough choice, and one of those points in your life where 20 years later you'll be thinking "what if"!!

I do struggle to work 7 hours a day but in 2-3 years when my dad retires as an accountant I will be getting his clients, adding them to mine (which I do on the side, ahem!) and so will work from home and work what hours I want and rest when I want. So the part-time vision problem won't be such an issue.

Dilemma. Do you or don't you? Things could go well, indeed the chances probably are that they would go well. On the other hand, things could go wrong.

What do you have to loose?

What do you have to gain?

Does the possibility of the gain outweigh the possibility of the loss?

Sorry to say, these are choices you have to make for yourself, but you do know, Craig, that all of us are thinking of you as you wrestle on the horns of this particular dilemma.

All the best

Andrew

Hmmm, decisions, decisions....
Remind us which hospital/consultant this is..? - and does he give the impression of being very cautious?
Infection/rejection are always a risk when post-graft stitches are taken out, AIUI - that's why people are back onthe antibiotic and steroid drops for a while after the stitches come out. And apparently why some consultants will leave them there if possible.
Part-time vision and working what hours you can and want to sounds wonderful - though I am reminded of the people who take over the business and find themselves working all the hours God made including those she forgot about!
Good luck with it, whatever you decide.
Rosemary

It is just so frustrating - between December 06 (graft date) and July 2007 my vision in that eye was probably the best in 15 years as the graft healed. After the injury it has been the worst ever.

But if I had the other op and the astigmatism gets worse and uncorrectable I am stuffed for life!

rosemary johnson wrote:Hmmm, decisions, decisions....
Remind us which hospital/consultant this is..? - and does he give the impression of being very cautious?
Infection/rejection are always a risk when post-graft stitches are taken out, AIUI - that's why people are back onthe antibiotic and steroid drops for a while after the stitches come out. And apparently why some consultants will leave them there if possible.
Part-time vision and working what hours you can and want to sounds wonderful - though I am reminded of the people who take over the business and find themselves working all the hours God made including those she forgot about!
Good luck with it, whatever you decide.
Rosemary

It is Professor Dua at Queens Medical, Nottingham. He did say he was not actually discouraging me, but pointing out everything - I suppose in this day and age he has to!!

Don't worry about me working all the hours God made! Since my inkury last year I have reassessed my priorities in life and am not so concerned with material things. I am now sorting out my finances so that when my dad retires in 3 years and I take on his clients that my wife's salary just about covers household costs and so we would only be relying on my business income for running the car, holidays, spending money etc. My wife is SO supportive of what I am doing and understands how it will help with my eye condition.

In the meantime, my business income is going to pay for a nice holiday in New York & Canada next year whilst I am still in employment. I have not asked my consultant about flying but seeing as it will be over 2 years since the re-surture I presume all will be ok!

Glad to hear you have a work-life balance under control!
I think you could be right about in this day and age, they have to point out all the risks.
I've been thinking about this again....
Who says that astigmatism could gt too bad to correct with contact lenses?????
And what degree of astigmatism do they claim is uncorrectable?
And have they and/or you thought of trying sclerals?
It just sounds very odd to me as a thing to say. A professional or otherise expert opinion of course would be welcome, but I'm wondering if sclerals will cope - "automatically", as it were, because of their shape - with more astigmatism than the small corneal lenses (and soft lenses, of course).
Rosemary

PS to the above: sorry if this is a stupid question, but how is this proposed procedure similar to and different from fitting an artificial lens to someone who'd developed a cataract?
People ahve cataract surgery OK after transplants.
BTW, have you discussed with them the osrt of lens to be inserted? - I father there are different ones optimised for distance vision or close work and some people have only foundn this out after the hospital have inserted the one they deem best and if the person had known they'd have ased for the other type.
Rosemary

Rosemary is right; I had an artificial lens fitted on the removal of a cataract. The cataract was caused by the steroids I was taking after my first graft.

I am wondering whether the point is that the sutures are still in place? My sutures had been removed some time before my cataract became a problem.

Andrew

Oh well, at least I don't have to worry about getting a cataract in that eye!

I have been on steroid drops since December 2006 now , still on 3 times a day!