UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Firstly everyone is different and has different medical history

so the below is only a general guide.
I have had three grafts now, so have a little idea!? or may be not!!

here we go!!!!!!!!!!!

>Make sure you take your medication/drops as required.

>Make sure you have plenty sleep after your op
The eye heels with sleep.
>Make sure its a quality sleep ( your not getting up every 2 hours!!)

>Try and be relaxed ( this can be hard!!!!!!!!!)

>Never touch your eye ( or keep this down to a minimum) because
of infection

>Dont bend to much or carry heavy things ( Wait stress goes to your eye!)
first four weeks or so, after that not any slabbing outside or
any other really heavy jobs! in first six to 12 months take it easy!

>Plenty of quality air ( when you feel ok to do this) don't mean walking
down a street full of cars and dust fumes!
a nice county place! cover up with sun glasses in wind!! and sun.

> Don't book a crazy holiday to the amazon! or hicking in india!! etc in first three weeks
be sensible! you could pick up an affection!!

> Wear your eyeshield at night

>Eat healthy and look after yourself allways!!!!!!!!!!!

>Drink plenty.

>Very often your find that your consultant will have secretary,
if you contact the secretary they can get the consultant or cornea graft
nurse, to ring you and give any general advice.

If your feel something is major wrong go to casualty

ALLWAYS SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE

am sure you can add more..............

Good list; I think that the RSVP mnemonic is a help. RSVP helps us know when there is an ophthalmological emergency that requires attention

Redness
Sensitivity to light
decreased Vision
Pain

Andrew

another bit of advice

>In first four weeks dont plan to have a family party at you home etc
take it easy!! scale down things for the first four weeks and relax

have some quality time for you and your eye!!

I broke nearly all those

My first graft was nearly 21 years ago and within 6 weeks i was back on the farm cutting hay, mucking out the milking parlour after milking lifting bails of hay moving out straw ready for the harvest so new was at the back and old ready for use.

Loads of lifting and dust.

I did at least have plenty of quality air working on a farm in Yorkshire

Perhaps having spent a life of 'Where there's muck there's brass' environment my system has built a tolerance to most nasties which would explain why I rarely get ill.

Then again optoms will testify that I'm the one that often goes against the trend

Gareth, did you do this out of necessity ? or was it you was not aware at the time that you should be taking it easy ? did your Dr approve/know ?

Thanks, Pepe

Doctor knew I was going back to a summer job on the farm and he was quite happy with it. By the time my second graft was 12 months old I was working down sewers, mines and a bit of time on an oil rig as part of my university placement year.

I think with todays culture the doctors are far more careful than they were 20 years ago because they'll end up in court for the slightest thing which is why I think graftess now use eye drops (especially the steriod ones) for so long now. When I had my grafts, I was only on them for 3 months but never as regular as people use them now. Back then I don't think drugs were not as rigerously tested as they are now.

My feeling about hospital infections is because as a society we rely so much on them that we now have infections that are immune to antibiotics because we have given them the perfect conditions to adapt and become immune. I know there are plenty of people that disagree with me.

For me it comes down to common sense. Although I was lifting things and working in a dust environment I did follow common sense. So I did wear eye protection and I lifted what I was comfortable with so anything I felt excessive I left. What is heavy to me might be light as a feather to you as we are all built different, plus if you lift correctly the pressure you feel in the eye should be minimal. Even for a health person with no problems, if you are having to starin to lift aheavy object you are running a sever risk of back injury later in life.

As a society we do seem to be in a situation we have to be told what to do and no longer allowed to think for ourselves. just my opinion.

You have "get up and go" - good on you buddy, its what your comfortable with after taking advice which can vary by a degree from Dr to Dr from the experience they have.