Transplant very soon

[Diane Fitzhenry]

Hi everyone

My name is Diane and I am new to your site. Congratulations to you all for such an excellent support system. I am 41 and have had Kerateconus for about 6/7 yrs now. Although I have it in both eyes my left one has gone down hill rapidly over the last year or so. I have tried a lens but I just couldn't tollerate it and at the moment i am relying on my right eye for everything.

My surgery is listed for 14th December and I am ever so worried about all the after care involved, and if I will be able to cope with it all. Also (and this may sound petty) will I still be able to wear mascara and eye makeup after my surgery?

Thanks in advance
best wishes

[jayuk]

Diane

Welcome to the forum!

I cant really comment on the mascara as I dont really wear that (not during the day anyway!! )...but there have been a few posts on this before.....

With regards to the experience.....its all bespoke...I dont think ive ever read two experiences that have been the same....be it the time of the transplant, the first 24 hours, etc.....

What I will say, and many may share this view, is that the whole procedure does go very quickly...and many find it underwhelming......its just the recovery period which takes the most time; and requires the most patience!....I am assuming you are aware of the care that needs ot be taken with the eye, eye drops / medication, recovery etc?

HTH

Jay

[Diane Fitzhenry]

Hi Jay

I have had several chats with my consultant, and I have read alot of the information from the hospital but it all seems very daunting to me at the moment. is it very painful afterwards, is the aftercare pretty straight forward, and how long did it take before your vision improved.

Thanks

[GarethB]

Diane,

Welcome to the forum.

Any surgery is daunting however most here will say it was not as bad as they thought it would be.

Surgery often takes between 1 - 2 hours and in many cases now people are allowed out same day or at least the next day.

For me the graft was more uncomfortable than painful, but we are all different. Most who do have pain afterwards find ibuprofen type pain killers work fine. You will be photophobic for a while so don't put your sunglasses away just yet

Afetrcare is pretty straight forward, eye drops through out the day just to help avoid any infection. You will be advised against heavy lifting and straining as this can affect the occular preasure.

At night you will need to wear an eye shield to protect your eye and you can get clear ones too so if you are near children, you are protected from wandering hands.

Probably best to avoid mascara for the first four weeks or so just to give the healing process a good start.

Most get a check up a couple weeks or so post op and quite regular thereafter until things stabalise.

Regards

Gareth

[jayuk]

Diane

Take a look of a log of my operation...which includes the post op phases etc...hopefully itll help in some way

http://www.keratoconus-group.org.uk/for ... .php?t=417

My vision improve WITH glasses very soon..I think it was like 10 weeks or something.....but you need to work on the premise that the first 12 months; vision will change alot!...as the cornea settles, changes shape, sutures get removed etc etc!

I do know what you mean and can relate to how you feel at this stage....Pain wise....I did have some but that was due to another complication i had....which had nothing to do with the actualy cornea transplant.....I think I took the odd pain killer after the op...but it wasnt that bad......

HTH

Jay

[Diane Fitzhenry]

Thanks Gareth

It certainly helps to have found this site. I don't feel quite so lonely now.

regards

[Val G]

Hi Diane

Welcome to the forum, it has been an invaluable source of support to me. I am 43 and had my left eye grafted in December last year. Try not to get too worried about the op, it will be over in no time, make the most of the rest and let the professionals do their job.The pain was not bad at all for me and could be managed with painkillers. It was more the fact that I felt 'wiped' out for a good few days, after effects on the anaesthetic I think.I feel I have made good progress and I am hoping to have a lens fitted at the end of the month.
Where are you having yours done?

[Andrew MacLean]

diane

Welcome to the forum

I had my first graft in 2003 and am going in for the second eye on October 27. I found the time to the recovery of good sight quite long, but the glorious thing was that I really never had any pain.

I am hoping for the same again!

All the best. Stay in touch as time passes.

Yours aye

Andrew

[Matthew_]

Good Luck!

[Andrew MacLean]

December 14 isn't all that far away, now! Just wanted you to know that you were still in our thoughts.

Andrew