Check Up Appointment (16/07/2018)

Had my first checkup with my consultant since my incision surgery, and it was a very standard day at the eye clinic. 

Checked in, had my eye test, then had them scanned then saw my consultant for a couple of minutes, and left. 

I had a previous check-up with someone who was filling in for my normal consultant, who was on annual leave but received a letter couple days later saying I was going to see my consultant within the next few weeks anyway, so I took that as a hint of him wanting to double verify my non-consultant’s views.

So basically my astigmatism has gone down dramatically. Still not great, but enough that they want to try refractions (glasses). So I should be back within the next couple months for that. If that doesn’t work, however, they will look into doing laser eye surgery. But, apparently, I’m almost at the end of my cornea transplant journey of fixing the wrongs and whatnot.

I feel incredibly grateful for my eye care team, who are a brilliant bunch of people. I have never met a group of professionals who were so caring and dedicated to helping others. And I will always adore their hard work. I just hope I’ve been a dream patient for them.

If things go according to plan, I will probably go back to just seeing them every now and then to see if everyone checks clear. With the occasional call for an emergency appointment. Especially if my right eye starts playing tricks again (which, luckily, it’s behaving itself. For now!)

But that’s the update. I look forward to the refraction tests, and hope to see a clearer future ahead of me! 

Ollie

Check Up (21/05/2018)

Had my first check up since keratotomy surgery today, and it went well.

Astigmatism has dramatically declined due to incision surgery. Went from 6.6 down to 2.1. Wounds are healing up as expected with another month or so left to fully finish off. They now want to try glasses due to my intolerance/their reluctance to trying lenses. They’re pretty confident that glasses will most likely work this time. If not, then more surgery will be needed (which is not the end of the world).

Right eye is behaving itself for the meantime.

But also, I have stopped taking my anti-rejection eyedrops for the last week and a half and haven’t seen any symptoms so that means my eye has accepted my cornea for now! Feels good not having to put in steroid eyedrops every-day.

The future is positive!

Astigmatic Keratotomy Surgery - 12/04/2018

Hi all!

So back on Tuesday morning (10/04/2018), I underwent cornea incision surgery to help point me in the right direction of possibly, but most likely, having laser eye surgery. As for my last two surgeries (CXL and DALK), I wasn’ t nervous until I went into theatre. So I think it could be safe to say that I’m somewhat of an expert at this now. Just need to master the not-getting-nervous-at-the-start. 

My Tuesday started off incredibly early. 6am early. I changed into my day surgery clothing which consisted of a pair of jogging trousers, a basic white shirt with a nice floral pattern on the sleeves and one of my grey jumpers. I was pretty much ready to go! The family and I set off for a McDonald’s breakfast (by we I mean just me… on my own). Very tasty, and by the time I was finished with it, we had arrived at the hospital. We highly underestimated our timing because we were very early. So early we had to wait for 30-45 minutes for the actual eye day surgery unit to open for business. 

One thing that was quite weird is that although everyone goes to the receptionist to sign in, you are actually told to sit down anyway and wait for your name to be called out. So I sat down for about 15 minutes and my name was called out, went up, verified and updated some personal information, and was sent back to my chair. Then one of the consultants wearing their surgery uniform came up to me, briefed me on what was being performed that day, the risks, the usual stuff they have to tell you before you sign the consent form, and that was that. I was on my way towards something that has been in the making for well over a year. 

I was then called up by a nurse who again made me verify my information, all my personal needs, health problems that they may need to know, and also more information about next-of-kin and how I would be getting back home. And was once again sent back to my seat… UNTIL I was called up again by my consultant who had a look at my eye. Another weird experience that I had was I believe he drew on my cornea while he was looking. At least I think it was a pen. He numbed my eye, and then very carefully drew a line of my cornea. I have to admit I was gutted when I went to the toilet before being called in for surgery to have not seen a Picasso piece on my eye. But you can only do so much.

So I was called in, put on my fashionable shoe covers and hair net, and I walked to the same old anaesthetic room that I’ve been in twice, laid down on my operating bed while they dowsed my eye in local anaesthetic, and I was wheeled in. The anxiety started skyrocketing at this rate, but luckily it didn’t last a long time. 

The con that I did have to go through was the bright lamp I had to look up to. It was incredibly bright. I don’t normally moan to my eye team about stuff, but when I do, it’s only because it really is unbearable. And they dimmed the light for me, which was still bright, but not like looking-at-the-sun bright. It was more tolerable. 

Then… It was done. Literally, after only 10 minutes in theatre, they finished it and I didn’t know it. I honestly thought they were just drawing on my eye once again, but it turned out they were doing the incisions. So I was wheeled out of the theatre, and was helped out of the bed, offered a wheelchair back to the waiting room, but I insisted on just walking back. I don’t like making a fuss out of the staff. So I waltz back into my family who was happy to see me and shocked at how quick it was. They commented on how red my eye (which I will include of photo of, it’s the second photo), and I did feel a tad lightheaded. After some discussion with the nurse about what to do what meds and new eyedrops, I was discharged. 

And that was my day.

Just two days after my surgery, I hardly feel any discomfort, and I’m almost back to normal except I still feel exhausted and feel like I can’t do as much physical activity as I want. And I still have to take it easy for the next two weeks. Which sucks. But the consultant’s advice is the best.

So I hope you enjoyed this somewhat rushed blog of my experience, and if there any questions, please feel free to private message me!

Ollie 

Date for Incision Surgery

As always, sorry for the lack of blogging on this page. But for the past year or so, there hasn’t been much progress or anything.

Until now!!!

I finally got a date for my incision date to fix my astigmatism in my left eye which received a cornea tissue donor back in 2015. 

Although this is still baby steps, it’s definitely a point in the right direction. I can’t wait to, hopefully, start the path of getting better eyesight. I am missing doing some of the basic things in life without either not having that good enough eyesight to see, have headaches from all the eye-straining I have to do and etc, etc. 

I have forgotten the exact name of the procedure I am having, however, I did find a YouTube video (NSFW and not for the squeamish) which should give you the right idea of what they’ll do. If I’m correct in remembering, the average incisions my consultant has made to his clients has been around 2. However, for me, it’s probably going to be around 6. Ouchhhh! 

But anyway, the future is bright, and at least some positive stuff is about to start.