@shellydaniels Hi Shelly and welcome to Mayo Connect. I see that you just joined our online patient support network and we are glad to have you here. i have never had a corneal transplant, however, I'm sure that there are several people in our Mayo Connect Community who have. You will undoubtedly be hearing from them. Best wishes as you consider this procedure!
@shellydaniels, Hello! Thank you for starting this conversation on corneal transplant. This will help other future members who are in need of talking with someone who is in need of corneal transplant or just want to connect with someone who has gone through the surgery.
While we are waiting for other members to connect, can you tell me a little more about your need for corneal transplant? I imagine this to be a very scary process but also very exciting for the end results.
Here is a very touching story before about a patient who had a keratoprosthesis procedure done at Mayo Clinic. Is this similar to the surgery that you are scheduled for? https://youtu.be/qSuH0KI35qw
I am just having the corneal transplant where they stitch a donor cornea in place of my bad cornea. But that video gives me hope if the corneal transplant would fail. I have kerotoconaus in both eyes and my vision has become 20/400 without hard contacts and glasses.
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 1, 2017
@shellydaniels, I first want to say, Welcome! I know of a couple of relatives who have friends with successful cornea transplants. I wish I could offer you more information about them. I do know that they are doing well with great improvement in quality of life with improved vision.
Shelly, I am visiting you from the organ transplant perspective; I am recipient of a liver and kidney. You will be the beneficiary of the tissue component of 'organ and tissue donation'. I hope for the very best possible outcome for your vision. You say that you are planning to have procedure in June. Will you be placed on the UNOS waiting list? Will you wait for the "call" ? Other than the routine procedure recovery, will you need to take any kind of antirejection medications?
Rosemary
@shellydaniels, I first want to say, Welcome! I know of a couple of relatives who have friends with successful cornea transplants. I wish I could offer you more information about them. I do know that they are doing well with great improvement in quality of life with improved vision.
Shelly, I am visiting you from the organ transplant perspective; I am recipient of a liver and kidney. You will be the beneficiary of the tissue component of 'organ and tissue donation'. I hope for the very best possible outcome for your vision. You say that you are planning to have procedure in June. Will you be placed on the UNOS waiting list? Will you wait for the "call" ? Other than the routine procedure recovery, will you need to take any kind of antirejection medications?
Rosemary
no wait is needed, they said they have corneas ready and you dont have to be matched so I can "pick" my timeframe of surgery, nothing needs to be done afterwards either, just stitches removed
@shellydaniels, I first want to say, Welcome! I know of a couple of relatives who have friends with successful cornea transplants. I wish I could offer you more information about them. I do know that they are doing well with great improvement in quality of life with improved vision.
Shelly, I am visiting you from the organ transplant perspective; I am recipient of a liver and kidney. You will be the beneficiary of the tissue component of 'organ and tissue donation'. I hope for the very best possible outcome for your vision. You say that you are planning to have procedure in June. Will you be placed on the UNOS waiting list? Will you wait for the "call" ? Other than the routine procedure recovery, will you need to take any kind of antirejection medications?
Rosemary
Thank you, @shellydaniels, for taking the time to reply. This is amazing! I did not know that was how it happened. I wish for you to experience the best possible outcome.
If you feel like sharing after your procedure, I would be interested in hearing from you.
Rosemary
Hello, I am new to this sight, but hope to glean much from joining here. This past Dec. I was diagnosed with Fuchs Dystrophy and have been reading up on it. It seems it means I too am facing corneal transplants in the future. I want to know all I can before having the surgery. I would appreciate any info you would like to share. Thank you!
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Feb 16, 2018
@bonniedef, I want to welcome you to Connect. I am glad that you have chosen to participate. My health experiences do not involve corneal transplant but I do know the fright and fear associated with a diagnosis that includes surgery. I think that you are very wise to 'want to know all you can ' beforehand. We, the patients, are at our best when we are well informed.
I would like to provide you with two resources that I found on the Mayo Patient Care and Health Information.
- about corneal transplants: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cornea-transplant/about/pac-20385285
- about Fuch's Disease :. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fuchs-dystrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352727
What symptoms led to your diagnosis?
Rosemary
no wait is needed, they said they have corneas ready and you dont have to be matched so I can "pick" my timeframe of surgery, nothing needs to be done afterwards either, just stitches removed
I recently had two detached retina surgeries and a cataract surgery and laser surgery (in office) to remove a secondary cataract. But..Dr said that my cornea has been damaged also (possibly during surgeries)....am on an ointment and drops. I was just wondering what all is involved in a cornea transplant if needed? And...I live in PA. I can’t afford to keep making trips to AZ. (I don’t know if I can come up with the funds just to get there to be seen.) I do know someone that lives in AZ that might be able to help provide a place for me to stay...but..IF I were to get the surgery there...can a Dr back in PA take care of my follow up appts? Or can you (anyone) recommend a REALLY GOOD facility in PA to do the procedure? Does Ins. cover it????
I recently had two detached retina surgeries and a cataract surgery and laser surgery (in office) to remove a secondary cataract. But..Dr said that my cornea has been damaged also (possibly during surgeries)....am on an ointment and drops. I was just wondering what all is involved in a cornea transplant if needed? And...I live in PA. I can’t afford to keep making trips to AZ. (I don’t know if I can come up with the funds just to get there to be seen.) I do know someone that lives in AZ that might be able to help provide a place for me to stay...but..IF I were to get the surgery there...can a Dr back in PA take care of my follow up appts? Or can you (anyone) recommend a REALLY GOOD facility in PA to do the procedure? Does Ins. cover it????
You'd have to speak to the individual hospital to confirm, @lep777, but patients have surgery at the Mayo Clinic campuses all the time and do follow-up appointments at home. Did the doctor want you to pursue this surgery, lep777? If so, what timeframe did he or she suggest?
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@shellydaniels Hi Shelly and welcome to Mayo Connect. I see that you just joined our online patient support network and we are glad to have you here. i have never had a corneal transplant, however, I'm sure that there are several people in our Mayo Connect Community who have. You will undoubtedly be hearing from them. Best wishes as you consider this procedure!
@shellydaniels, Hello! Thank you for starting this conversation on corneal transplant. This will help other future members who are in need of talking with someone who is in need of corneal transplant or just want to connect with someone who has gone through the surgery.
While we are waiting for other members to connect, can you tell me a little more about your need for corneal transplant? I imagine this to be a very scary process but also very exciting for the end results.
Here is a very touching story before about a patient who had a keratoprosthesis procedure done at Mayo Clinic. Is this similar to the surgery that you are scheduled for? https://youtu.be/qSuH0KI35qw
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am just having the corneal transplant where they stitch a donor cornea in place of my bad cornea. But that video gives me hope if the corneal transplant would fail. I have kerotoconaus in both eyes and my vision has become 20/400 without hard contacts and glasses.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@shellydaniels, I first want to say, Welcome! I know of a couple of relatives who have friends with successful cornea transplants. I wish I could offer you more information about them. I do know that they are doing well with great improvement in quality of life with improved vision.
Shelly, I am visiting you from the organ transplant perspective; I am recipient of a liver and kidney. You will be the beneficiary of the tissue component of 'organ and tissue donation'. I hope for the very best possible outcome for your vision. You say that you are planning to have procedure in June. Will you be placed on the UNOS waiting list? Will you wait for the "call" ? Other than the routine procedure recovery, will you need to take any kind of antirejection medications?
Rosemary
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reactionno wait is needed, they said they have corneas ready and you dont have to be matched so I can "pick" my timeframe of surgery, nothing needs to be done afterwards either, just stitches removed
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsThank you, @shellydaniels, for taking the time to reply. This is amazing! I did not know that was how it happened. I wish for you to experience the best possible outcome.
If you feel like sharing after your procedure, I would be interested in hearing from you.
Rosemary
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHello, I am new to this sight, but hope to glean much from joining here. This past Dec. I was diagnosed with Fuchs Dystrophy and have been reading up on it. It seems it means I too am facing corneal transplants in the future. I want to know all I can before having the surgery. I would appreciate any info you would like to share. Thank you!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@bonniedef, I want to welcome you to Connect. I am glad that you have chosen to participate. My health experiences do not involve corneal transplant but I do know the fright and fear associated with a diagnosis that includes surgery. I think that you are very wise to 'want to know all you can ' beforehand. We, the patients, are at our best when we are well informed.
I would like to provide you with two resources that I found on the Mayo Patient Care and Health Information.
- about corneal transplants:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cornea-transplant/about/pac-20385285
- about Fuch's Disease :.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fuchs-dystrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352727
What symptoms led to your diagnosis?
Rosemary
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI recently had two detached retina surgeries and a cataract surgery and laser surgery (in office) to remove a secondary cataract. But..Dr said that my cornea has been damaged also (possibly during surgeries)....am on an ointment and drops. I was just wondering what all is involved in a cornea transplant if needed? And...I live in PA. I can’t afford to keep making trips to AZ. (I don’t know if I can come up with the funds just to get there to be seen.) I do know someone that lives in AZ that might be able to help provide a place for me to stay...but..IF I were to get the surgery there...can a Dr back in PA take care of my follow up appts? Or can you (anyone) recommend a REALLY GOOD facility in PA to do the procedure? Does Ins. cover it????
You'd have to speak to the individual hospital to confirm, @lep777, but patients have surgery at the Mayo Clinic campuses all the time and do follow-up appointments at home. Did the doctor want you to pursue this surgery, lep777? If so, what timeframe did he or she suggest?