Second Cornea Transplant

[parkerbama]

Last year I had a cornea transplant due to a fungal infection. It was a bizarre incident. A peice of metal was in my eye long enough to cause a "hole". By the time I had it removed the eye was in very much pain. After removal it slowly improved to the point I went back to work. The hole was still there and I got some vegetation in my eye. Almost immediately the eye got worse and worse and the hole healed with the fungus on the inside. The doc at the time had no idea and was throwing all kinds of meds at me and thought it was a viral infection. After I was to the point I could not bear the pain (he would not give any meds for pain) he referred me to another doc a retina specialist. Why I have no idea. The retina specialist referred me to my present surgeon. After many treatments and no progress he replaced my cornea. He had to do this with my pressure extremely elevated , 36, and one very angry eye with swelling throughout my face.
The transplant did not take wll and soon scar tissue started forming and blocked what little vision I had after the surgery. I want him to do another transplant now that my eye is in better physical shape and not in an aggrevated state. He talked me out of it for the first year saying the blood vessels have become too invasive. I pretty much demanded he try again and he has put me on alrex for the next 3 months to clear the vessels. I think I may have abetter chance the second time. Presently I can not read small print, drive at night ... difficult to drive in the day and am losing out on activities in my life that I took for granted before my injury. My left eye is legally blind from astigmatism (my glasses bring it up to 20/80, I think). What are the chances and what could be done to insure this surgery will go better than the first?

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I meant retina, cornea and glaucoma - because it sounds like you've had some major pressure problems as well.  As far as artificial corneas - I'm not an expert - but might expect only 20/200 or 22/400 type vision with that.  Very, very rarely used - hopefully not something you will ever have to consider.
MJK MD

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I'm sure your surgeon will try to do everything possibe to improve your chances for a successful corneal transplant.  Since I don't know why your first transplant failed, I can't give you too much specific information.  Unfortunately, as a general rule your chances of success don't necessarily get better the second time.  Your case sounds very complex since you seem to be seeing separate retina, glaucoma and retinal specialists.  If you're not already, you may want to consider a second opinion at a major ophthalmology teaching hospital in your region.  No one wants you to have a bad result - somes cases are just much more complex and difficult.  I wish you well.
Michael Kutryb, MD

[parkerbama]

I am sorry I must have been confusing. I am not seeing separate retina, glaucoma and retinal specialists. I am seeing one retina specialist. My original eye doctor sent me to a retinal specialist because he didnt know what he was doing (words of the retinal specialist and my corrnea specialist, they both said he should have referred along time before he did).
But ... I appreciate the response. The first transplant was due to rejection and vascular growth on the cornea.
Maybe the second time is the charm with some anti rejection drops and some alrex to keep the vessels at bay. Thats what we are hoping for anyway. Thanks again.
No one from St Louis to Georgia to Kentucky will do an artificial transplant without having tried a human transplant twice. My surgeon said they are progressing but not perfected. He said he has a colleage in Atlanta that has some success with the artificial. What have you seen regarding some of the different artificial transplants?