Corneal Rejection

[Soph+]

Hello all,

Been a while since i've been on here! but I'm looking for some knowledge or experience about graft rejection.

Doctor told me today that I either have conjunctivitus or the early signs of graft rejection (he has taken swabs, increased drops, added anitbiotic drop and increased oral aciclover - i have had previous issues with herpes simplex in my grafted eye).

My question is this - what happens if your graft rejects, can they do another one? do they take it out? and then put another one in? would your vision be blurry, is it painful until they are able to re-graft, if this is what they do?

Clearly questions I should have asked the doctor, but didn't think to earlier and when my housemate said - what does it mean if my graft rejects, I had to admit that I wasn't really sure!

Any advice helpful and I know you don't have all the answers! Seeing the doctor again Monday (unless it gets worse..) and I can ask him then.

Fingers crossed for conjunctivitus!

Soph

[GarethB]

If a grafts rejects in its simplest terms the bodies defences have identified the graft as being foreign material and starts to attack it.

Graft can be redone after rejection which as far as I am aware is rare if rejection is caught early. Some people have a single rejection episode that is treated and then have no more, others have repeated episodes that require a regraft.

In very severe cases the donor tissue would be matched to yours.

As far as I am aware the recovery process is no different to the graft you have had already except the drops you may be on could be stronger to further reduce the risk of rejection.

Bottom line is, make a note of the questions you have here and ask you doctor on Monday bevause he will be able to answer each one specific to your case as I have been very general here.

[Anne Klepacz]

Hi Soph,
As Gareth says, the majority of rejection episodes are reversed using frequent steroid drops for a week or two. I had several rejection episodes in both eyes in the first few years post graft, but all were successfully reversed and 25 years on I still have the original grafts. The key is catching the rejection early, so as you've been told, if things do get worse before Monday, don't hesitate to go to the hospital.
But fingers crossed that it isn't a rejection, and your current meds will work to clear whatever is going on. I had (very painful) conjunctivitis as well in the early stages, so that isn't pleasant either. But good luck, and let us know how it goes.
Anne

[Soph+]

Thank you both for your replies, reassuring to hear that rejection is normally stopped if caught early - If it is first signs of rejection then it has been caught early i think. Will see what he says monday and go prepared to ask questions!

Thank you for helping to host this website - helpful just to know there are some peole out there willing to share thier experience and be a listening ear.