Post corneal graft surgeries

[jamesar]

Howdy folks, just a couple of questions. I am getting my corneal graft in 3 months, but I am also facing a major back operation in 1 year for a hurt spine. Does anyone know if having a grafted eye poses any risks if future surgeries are needed on other parts of the body? I was just thinking that rejection may become more of a possibility after having a major back operation. Also, how long after the corneal graft are we allowed to drink I am an aussie!

On another point, my surgeon told me an interesting thing the other day. Apparently after receiving a corneal graft, having vaccinations can increase your chances of rejection due to increased levels of antibodies! So no flu shots for me afterward.

Have a great weekend everybody

[Andrew MacLean]

jamesar

So long as you mention to the people at the time of your subsequent operations that you have had a cornea transplant, they are sure to take that into consideration. I have had subsequent surgery on an eye previously grafted, and there seemed tob e no problem. I then had another general anesthetic for a graft to my other eye (again with no ill effects).

All the best.

I think I had been told about the potential problems of flu jabs after my PK graft. There is a balancing of risks and benefits that you have to do.

As to drinking (do you mean the consumption of alcohol?) I'd ask the doc. He is likely to use words like 'moderation', and you may want to ask for a more specific use of words like "units of alcohol"

All the best

Andrew

[GarethB]

With the work I was doing within 1 year post graft I had all sorts of vaccinations so that Icould wok down the sewers and with household waste. I still get them topped up just in case. Grafts are good and health 20 years on si it's done me no harm.

I've had knee and back surgery done within 2 yeasr of having my grafts.

As Andrew sayas, make the people doing the surgery aware of your grafts and they will know what to look out for if there are problems.

[rosemary johnson]

What??? - no flu jabs?????!!!!!
Don't remember anyone telling me that before, and I'm due for a flu jab next week.
eeeek.
Well... thinking about it, if I get a bad dose of flu or lung/chest infection, it can set off my asthma. And I am severely restricted in my choice of possible asthma inhalers, because my graft op has hypersensitised me to the more "usual" sort so I can't use them.
And some of the recent eye drops have been exacerbating the asthma..... so I think the flu jab is a must,and the eye will have to be kept an eye on.
After all, one can live with an eye condition for longer than one can live without being able to breathe.....
But thanks for telling us that.
As regards back operations: obviously I'll second the advice to tell the back op team all about your eye.
The two things I can think of to watch out for are:
1. Will you have to be lying face-down for the back op? If so, make sure they know to support your face carefully and comfortably so there is no weight on your eye, or near it (my chiropractor ahd to get extra pillows and things to use when I was face-down on his couch and not resting any weight near my grafted eye)
2. If they give you any doses of steroids - steroid eye drops can push up the internatl eye pressure; you'll have those to prevent the grafted piece being rejected, and your eye specialists will be monitoring the pressure in case the eye drops are pushing it up. If they are likely to give you doses of steroids in or after the back op, you might like to mention this to both your eye specialists and the back people. (I'm not a back surgeon so don't know if this is likely, but steroids are a) antiinflammatory, so could be used to reduce potential swelling in the back; and b) used along with anaesthetic drugs to stop you feeling sick from the anaesthetic - in my case this backfired badly, but that's another story!)
Of course, you need to tell the back op people about all the drugs you're using including all the eye drops - no doubt you'll be asked about that at their pre-op appointment.
I'm sure it will oall be fine! - best wishes.
Rosemary

[jamesar]

Thanks heaps guys and gals. You are a great help