Facing an eye surgery next month...

Yesterday was Decision Day. I made my decision for the doc to operate on my left eye cornea. (Cornea is the clear transparent window at the front of the eye, and allows light to enter the eye.)

Operation DAte: 27 June 2006.

Two years back, I had been wearing contact lenses, and due to their uncleanliness, my left eye contracted infection, and that caused my eye to be cloudy. ( In short, my pupil turned totally white.) I had to be warded for 4 days, and my eye healed by itself progressively.

8 months before, my doc suggested the option of surgery, at that time, my eye stopped healing. What remains now is a big white scar at my cornea, where I have partially clear vision, and everything I see is in double images. (Think as if like looking at an object, and there's a shadow behind.)

Last month, my doc asked me to decide with the surgery or not. But due to busy events going on, the matter was pushed aside. My intepretation of the doc's explanation is that the damaged area is at the surface area, and didn't go all the way thru the nerve of the eye. My case is like that, having the scar at the surface area only. Since I am also young, I should be able to recover quite quickly. (based on my healing process, I had recovered quite early.)

He stressed that IF the scar touches the nerve of the eye, he had to cut all the way and this is considered very risky. Even he is afraid of the rejection of the person.

I had a consultation yesterday. This time my mom was present. When I met the doc today, he was accompanied by the other doc, who examined my eye.

my doc, lets call him Dr. J.T. He asked me whether I agreed. I said ok. He proceeded to fill out the necessary forms.

J.T explained that in the WORST SENARIO, if my cornea falls apart, J.T gotta cut thru the whole cornea and replace the whole thingy with a donated cornea. (Let me stress on this, I heard this explanation for the FIRST TIME)

By then, my heart just dropped. I had a bad feeling about this. I could tell my mom got scared.

After that, I got ot do 2 more tests. First one is to take photographs of my eyes. and the second one; to take measurements.

Before I went in the room, my mom consulted with a nurse who accompanied J.T. she told my mom in more detail. It is a MAJOR OP and considered very risky.

After the 2 tests, a nurse consulted us and told us in details...

What we are scared the most is the rejection. It matters the most whether your body can accept the donated cornea layer. If there is any complications, you must report to us immediately. you think if there is any headache or sudden worsening of vision. Usually, the graft survival (donated cornea layer) depends heavily on the early detection of the graft rejection.

My enthusiasm dropped even further. Frankly speaking, I dun think I could handle any more shocks for the day.
Discouraging, yes, but 100% honest explanation. It mentally prepared me what's the future gonna be like.

My mom got sick. By then, she shivered due to the air-con.

I had to see another assistant to hear detailed explanation of the ESTIMATED costs...

By the time I finished, we ate dinner and went home.. My mom by then got full blown fever and had her deserved rest.

She didn't tell me that she got it in the morning. she kept quiet cox she wanted to accompany me.

Key issues here (mom's point of view):

1) the danger of rejection. Whether my body can accept the donated cornea layer or not. the constant fear of having a rejection for the rest of your life. and the case of full term medication.

2) the risks involved. the possibility of replacing the whole pupil DURING the surgery.

3) whether the person's donated cornea layer (he/she had passed away) agreed. I heard ghost stories here...
I am not inclined to disclose here...

4) the caution and the length of protection that I had to undertake after the surgery.


My point of view:

1) I am WIlling to do it. I am Aware of the risks involved.

2) the surgery represented a hope for me. I certainly dun want to spend my life looking at things now..

3) Why not? my eye had been like this already. It had reached the last stage of the healing process. Why not try another option??


Guys, I am trying to make a big decision here. Hope you can advise.... Thank u.