UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi all,

I had a PK 6 months ago and to be honest my eye has never felt right since. i seem to get constant scratches on my cornea and/or infections, as well as a "feeling of something in my eye". I have been in casualty more times in the last 6 months than in the previous 10 years -). Hovever I always see differnt doctors so I tend to get a different diagnosis every time.

I read in a previous post from 2004 that artificial tears (Clinitas) may help even though one Doctor prescribed me Viscotears whilst another said I dont have dry eyes.Maybe my cornea just dries out faster.

My main qustion is as follows.

I have tried viscotears with no real effect and was thinking if I should try some PF ones. I also think that a "wet" cornea may be more difficult to scratch than a dry one.

I suppose my main qustion is : Is it safe to use artificial tears as I am on Lotemax steroids, timolol and travatan and my old favourite chloramphenicol !!

The last thing I want is to jeperdise my graft by putting additional drops in that have not been prescribed by a doctor. i assume as artificial tears are mainly water based that it should be okay.

Thanks for listening,

Liam

Liam

In your place I think I'd try to get an early appointment to see my ophthalmology consultant.

Have you tried Clinitas products? They do an artificial tear called "Clinitas Soothe", preservative free and dispensed in little single use minims. I don't think it would be a good idea to use artificial tears immediately after or before your other eye drops but if you check with your optometrist or ophthalmologist, they will keep you right.

I use Clinitas, their products suit me. I know that others use Systane or Carbomer based eye drops such as Hypromelose.

All the best

Andrew

Hallo Liam,
SOrry to hear you've been having such a troublesome time post-PK.
When you say scratches, do you mean, something is really scratching, or just that it feels ccratchy and itchy?
I notice you list both travatan and timolol - I gather you've been diagnosed with glaucoma (or at least high pressure that might uput you at risk of glaucoma).
Is it possible that part of the itchy sore feelings are a reaction to the travatan? - apparently it is a possible side-effect, as they told me when they first put me on them, and I was promptly back in A&E with a red and sore eye and swollen round the eye, which they said was a known side0effect and didn't seem to be worried about!
I was referred to the glaucoma clinic where the consultant was quite happy to prescibe lubricating soothing eye drops to cool down the redness and soreness caused by the anti-glaucoma drops - in this case, Celluvisc, I don't know why that rather than any other type. Also to change me from Travatan to an alternative.
Agree with Andrew, can you get an appointmnet with your regular consultant?
Best wishes with it! I don't suppose it is any consolation to you, but my eye still foesn't feel "quite right" 15 months post=graft; it can be a long haul.
Rosemary