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... although I've not any particular knowledge about corneal implants, I do, however, have considerable experience related to radical, and extremely experimental surgery conducted on my eyes going on two-years ago now.
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A bit of background.
Four years past I suffered what I'm told was an extra-ordinarily massive Myocardial Infarction, so severe I've been apprised that I should have actually expired, rather than be living to speak about it. They still do not fully understand why I had the damn thing in the first place.
I won't go into the actual why's and wherefore's of why I apparently did survive; let it just remain that I have, and we'll move on to what you really need to hear.
The only enduring effect of that MI was that I had gone instantly, and completely, and I would later be told, permanently, blind. The Retina in both eyes suffered horrendous damage resulting from the MI and could not be repaired, and in effect my eyes were dead, and before long would atrophy entirely.
For whatever reason blood again began flowing to my eyes some 18-months after the MI; this being with no explanation medically; resulting in my seeing for the first time a good long white patches at first in black and white and some days later in colour. I never did ever get to see shapes other than sort of blotchy thingies with no real form.
An examination of my eyes by my eye surgeon (he's a teaching Fellow at Guy's Hospital in England and the head of Ophthalmology at the University of Toronto) revealed that I, in essence, seemed to be suffering what could best be described as being the same symptoms those afflicted with Diabetic Retinopathy, a condition long-term Type 1 Diabetics often suffer through, with the eventual lost of their sight due to intermittent blood-flow to the retina and eyes becoming the reality.
My surgeon was aware of highly experimental procedures being conducted in London, and sent x-rays, MRI's, and whatnot to them for evaluation. The end result being I was accepted for the clinical trials of their procedure being conducted on patients across the globe, with them informing my surgeon it might be possible to restore some of my vision, but they wouldn't (and likely couldn't) guarantee anything more than quite possibly 15 per-cent, likely less.
The surgery involved two steps. Firstly, I underwent a radical procedure whereby all fluids from both eyes were siphoned off and each then split in half, opening the entire retinal surface to scrutiny whereby the network of blood vessels using new micro-surgery techniques were put back together again; sort of like crocheting I'm told. The eyes were then rejoined and re-inflated with the previously siphoned off fluids.
Secondly, some two weeks later, and only after it was confirmed that not only could I see colour; but that I could now define shape (still with no sharp edges, but shape none-the-less for it), and images I could definitely recognize as been what I was supposed to be seeing, surgery was scheduled for the embedding of inter-ocular lenses ... a very special new kind of artificial lens, which like the human variety could recreate the multiple focal points required for most routine visual tasks. Unfortunately one had to either chose to go with those that would provide for "near" vision (that is to say within an inch of the eyes and about two-blocks away), or "distance" vision (that being arms-length from the eyes and 10-blocks away). Having been near-sighted and a contact lens wearer for more than 50-years, it was a no-brainer, I chose the latter.
For reasons I can't go into entirely here, both the first procedure, and the second (effected using lasers) had to be done without anaesthesia; my being allergic to all known varieties at this time; as a consequence, the moment the inter-ocular lenses were inserted I could see and define shape, with clear focused sharp edges for the first time in over two years. It would be a week before they deemed the procedure a success, with my eyes strengthening as they healed, and it transpiring I would likely have near perfect, uncorrected, vision for the first time in my life.
I can't tell you how simply marvelous it was for me that first rain-washed evening walking my dog Lucky; you know the type of conditions I'm speaking of, where the light fairly crackles with crystal-clear resonance; where I first gazed west on Lawrence Avenue East outside of my then residence and could clearly see TTC buses as they crested the rise some 8-blocks distant; and, where the joy I was feeling was immediately transmitted to Lucky, who had been my faithful eyes ever since I had lost my vision, and whose gaze radiated with warmth, love, and unbridled affection and triumph at my complete return to sighted vision.
I hope this assuages some of your trepidation over taking the surgery; it's not quite what you face, but I hope similar enough to give your both the strength of purpose, and the courage, to undertake your procedure in confidence.
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A side note to all this: I've been told that procedures similar to what I'd undergone are expected to be approved for, and aiding, those afflicted with Diabetic Retinopathy within 5-years, and that within 10-years, likely anyone then age 45, or older, afflicted with the disease, will never again have to fear losing their vision. Too, the inter-ocular lenses used in my procedure are currently being used in the treatment of two other eye-sight failure conditions, cataracts and glaucoma.
Warren C. E. Austin
The Gay Deceiver
Toronto, Canada
[Updated on: Fri, 04 June 2010 20:16]
"... comme recherché qu'un délice callipygian"
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Dear Tempo21,
I am 75 and had quite severe 'cataracts' which is hardening and discolouration of the cornea. The standard operation is to emulsify the old lens and insert a plastic one (in my case made by Bausch & Lomb!).
Of course the new lens has no ability at all to change focus so the only way I can see sharply at other than 'Natural' distances is to use lenses (glasses).
But now I can see fairly sharply at a distance. For example I easily pass the driving test of being able to read a number plate at 20 metres distance in good light.
Now, if I understand right the corneal graft is putting a natural cornea where the old one was and that is a bit more complex than just replacing the old one with a lump of plastic - but if it is successful it will give you some ability to change the distance where your eye is focussed.
I don't know how things are in SA but here I went into the hospital at 5 pm, was sorted out by 7 pm, was operated on under local anaesthetic (so I could see my old lens being emulsified and the new lens being inserted into the corneal sac!) and out by 8.30 pm and was driving my car about the next day!
One eye was done in Feb and the other in April. I now see better (I think) than ever before in my life.
So don't worry! Ask your consutlant what they can do if the graft doesn't take. I think you will be told that you can have a plastic lens. And if I'm right about that it is far from the end of the world.
Love,
Anthony
[Updated on: Fri, 04 June 2010 19:21] |
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I have not had the procedure done, but Wikipedia says:
"Corneal transplant is one of the most common transplant procedures ...... approximately 100,000 procedures are performed worldwide each year,..."
The fact that the procedure is so common may be why you don't hear much about it any more.
If you REALLY need to know, the article goes into great detail about how the procedure is performed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corneal_transplantation
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I can tell you that fear is a good and useful thing. Some years ago I had a urethral graft. I had to drive 150 miles to the hospital for the surgery. I was so afraid of the event that I drove there in tears, pretty much. I was afraid of dying on the table.
Most of the way there I worked out that all that would happen is that I would get anaesthetised and either wake up or not. That stopped the tears.
I woke up.
It hurt a lot.
It's fine now.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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