Where Next

[James Colclough]

Hi All,


Saw my consultant in Moorfields end of last month, after being pushed forward from October, Only the second time I saw the main man on red 4. Last year he said surgery, then I had to wait five more months for a follow up consultation.... Two weeks before the op. I decided rightly or wrongly, to delay and explore other options. I have been piggy backing since July with great success, they now say I can not continue to do this as at some point something will give. My cornea's are less than half a micron thick at the centre.

I am concerned by the recovery time and the fact that I can not manage with only one lens. Is there any where I can go to get a second opinion, to see if surgery is the only option left open to me.

Can i get my readings from Moorfields', tempted to go back to the Royal Eye in Kingston as they were less pro surgery.

[GarethB]

Hi James,

Half micron is really thin is that correct?

I think with collegen they avoid corneas less than 300 micron as that is getting towards graft territory if lenses are not working.

What were the reasons Moorfields said something may give or do they mean that the cornea is so thin hydrops and corneal scaring are a distinct possibility?

From experience if you go for a second opinion they like to take their own set of measurements so having access to what Moorfileds have may be irrelevant to them.

There is no harm in going back to Royal Eye in Kingston.

You say you are concerned about the recovery time; what exactly is it that concerns you?

You also mention you can not cope with one eye, whay brings you to this conclusion?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I would like to understand more what you are giong through to offer advice/share my experiences that are relevent to you if there is any.

Regards

[jayuk]

James

Im with Gareth on this......a few questions there that may help you....

In terms of second opinion; how well can you see right now? With piggybacking? DO you have any issues with lens tolerance?....

J

[Andrew MacLean]

James

The time comes when all else has failed, and then you hvar to make the choice between blindness or a graft.

Have they said anything about vascularization? I know that this is a risk with piggy backing.

All the best

Andrew

[James Colclough]

Trying to post a reply from sadberry so may or may not work.

With lenses vision day time 20 20.

Lens tolerance most days 16 - 18 hours.

Half a Micron is what Mr L said when I saw him.

I had a badly ulcerated eye a couple of years ago. Found it almost impossible to work. No depth of vision close work very difficult.

As single vision is poor.

I have a lot of scarring on both eyes.

Oxygenation I was told could be a problem but at present, everything is ok. I

[James Colclough]

When do you know all else has failed.

I am happy with my vision, that is I can work with the lenses and achieve 20/20 day time .

Piggy backing makes it more comfortable than before.

Is it absolute that I must have a graft.

If oxygenation is an issue why not breathable soft cushions.

The idea of a graft itself is not he worry, its the fact that I have been told my vision post op will not be as good. Also there is no absolutes in recovery time.

If i am to go for surgery I would rather pay for laser surgery if available as this must be better than the cookie cutter. Also told I would need to have a full thickness graft due to thinning and scarring.

Are there any other options in there or what questions should I ask.

[John Smith]

James,

If your cornea is already thin, then laser surgery would certainly be out of the question.

However, if you are achieving 6/6 (20/20 in American parlance) vision, then I'd certainly doubt the need for a graft.

If your eye really does require LOTS of oxygen (and I understand that some do), then you could consider a fenestrated scleral (a scleral lens with holes drilled into it!).

I'd certainly agree with you that you should stay off the operating table for a long time yet if you're achieving such excellent vision.

[Andrew MacLean]

james

I got good use from a fenestrated scleral. It kept me going while I was waiting for surgery, althought I could only wear it for short times.

They will tell you when all else has failed!

Andrew

[GarethB]

To say vision post graft will not be as good as pre graft I thing is very misleading.
Once my graft had healed, my vison post graft with glasses was far better than I ever got with contact lenses. I eventually went many years without any visoin correction getting 6/6. Then went back to glasses and now on lenses and with vision correction I have always his 6/6 or better corrected vision.

I think the surgeons should be saying the idea of corneal surgery is to provide a better surface for correcting vision.

[James Colclough]

Hi Gareth,

If a human hair is less than 300 micron, there is no way my cornea can be half a micron, or am I missing something.

On the vision front, I can read as far as line 6 on the snellen chart, with both eyes. single vision its line 4 with one and line 5 with the other. Binocular vision always seems the best.

On the graft front is anyone doing this with laser in the UK. I seem to recall it is available in the states. Apparently quicker healing time.


Thanks


James