Reassurance needed!

[craigthornton]

Some of you will know from other posts that my transplant last week went well and the hospital were pleased with how I was today when I went for a checkup.
But I have a vision problem which I had before the graft and is still there. It came on after I had had a hydrops.
Basically out of my right eye the image is blurred, as expected, and my left eye sees perfectly fine. When both eyes are open it is as though my brain is not fusing together both images.
If I am on a long enough straight road, and a car is approaching from the other way, the blurred image will be on my left (confusingly, as this is how I see from my right eye!) and depending on the distance ahead, be on the field to the left of the carriageway. As the car draws nearer, the image comes in at about 45 degrees and by the time the car is adjacent, have joined up with the clear image.
Is this part of KC (pre-op) and usual expected distortion post-op?
I am just worried I have developed another condition and my brain got lazy soon after hydrops when the right eye could see nothing at all.

[jayuk]

Craig

What you describe is normal post graft as the Brain is getting used to the new vision or change in images that the brain now has to process.....

However, whether its still this or somethng else, only an Optham can tell you after you see him to be honest....

HTH

J

[Sarah M]

craig, i think i know what you mean. When ur at home everything looks fine, but when you go out, its a different story. Its like there is more to look at and to focus on.

I explained this to my consultant when i had an appointment (he said everything was looking very healthy) last week, the best way i can describe how i felt was when i looked ahead everything was a blur and i felt quite dizzy, and he told me this was perfectly normal, it was just my brain trying to re-adjust, just like Jay said. I think the more i've been out and about, its got better - either that or i just dont notice anymore.

I now 4 weeks post op, still no change in my vision, but its still very early days i know.

Hope that makes sense to u.
Sarah

[craigthornton]

That's right Sarah, when I'm at home I barely notice it.
I suppose it's to do with physics and how light enters the imperfect cornea. The further the distance, the greater the gap in double image.

[Paul Osborne]

Don't forget guys that you are only just post-op, my consultant (I am 9 months post op) said that the first few months are about healing and getting the new cornea to attach to the eye properly. Vision at that time is a secondary concern.

At around 8 months I had a couple of stitches removed and the change was phenomenal (in a good way).

So bear with it. When they say that its a long process that is exactly what they mean!

Paul

[craigthornton]

I always have to have my vision checked by a nurse before seeing the main consultant. It's always funny - "What can you read with your left eye" - "Last Line" - "What can you read with your right eye" - "Nothing"

Although yesterday she did hold up a card with a letter slightly bigger than the first letter on the chart I could read it.

[Paul Osborne]

Ah yes, I have that every time as well - utter waste of time for the first few months.

I am always tempted to just shout out random letters and see what she does!

[craigthornton]

Ah yes, I have that every time as well - utter waste of time for the first few months.

I am always tempted to just shout out random letters and see what she does!

Also, it's about time they changed the letters, I nearly know them all in order of the top of my head!

[Sarah M]

hehe, its a waste of time is it! I cant see the chart, but if i hold the little story book up to my nose i can read that, aye the biggest letters. But hey ho its something i couldnt have done before.

My consultant said the same Paul, about healing first, and then the vision. In your other post about your visit today (glad to hear everything going ok) u mentioned ur cornea is called george, mine is called cornelius. he even got a mention on some of my xmas cards lol.

Anyway, hang in there craig, it does get better!
Sarah
x

[Andrew MacLean]

Most people get used to the muddled images and their brain irons out the wrinkles. It may even be that you learn selectively to stop using one or other eye.

All the best

Andrew