I continue to recover from my DALK corneal transplant/graft procedure on March 9th, and thought I’d bring my (growing) audience up to date on some highlights.  My wife has been a trooper in helping me with things over the last few days, including a bit of grumpiness and anxiety.

Positives:

• Eyelid swelling reduced.
• Eye redness reduced.
• Milky-white vision is gone.
• Pain levels reduced – Tylenol helps with a mild burn in the morning.  I am surprised how quickly pain has dropped.
• The overnight discomfort is near zero.  This is a huge improvement for me. In the past, my gigantic cone would get dry and raw overnight.  I used to have to lubricate every hour or so and the pain would wake me many times per night.  For the last two nights, I’ve slept like a baby without any drugs.
• No post-7:00 pm pain that I had with scleral lenses.
• Foreign object sensation with sutures roughly the same as a RGP lens.

Annoyances/Negatives:

• ITCH!!! The areas around my eyelid and eye socket where the injections were given (I was asleep) became very itchy for a day or so.

  

  If this happens to you don’t forget you cannot rub your eye. Put your shield on and occupy your mind.   It took Benadryl and it helped a bit.

• An annoyance is this “bandage contact lens” I was given.  It’s purpose is to encourage healing of the epithelium and improve comfort while the nerve endings are exposed.  It’s the size of a quarter-dollar and does not fit well and makes my vision “wavy” – like looking through a wine glass.  If I turn my head slightly, I see bits and pieces of what’s to come.  This morning, from across the room, I caught a glimpse between the contact lens waviness of my iPhone clock – and it was as if I had 20/20 vision for a moment.   Last night, I glanced at the stars and could see that shortly, I’ll be able to enjoy them again.  This should come out at my next Dr. visit.
• Light sensitivity.  My doctors said that this was quite normal.  We’ve had beautiful sunny weather in Kentucky and I’ve needed to remain in the shadows.  A dark-black patch (available at your local pharmacy) has been tremendously helpful.  I recommend those having surgery buy one.   Dark sunglasses not enough for me.
• Steroid and antibiotic drops have a mild, temporary burn – but these are critical to recovery.
• I caught myself drifting off to sleep once without my shield.   Must not!

My activities have been slowly increasing – I went out to breakfast with my wife and eldest daughter yesterday.  Enjoyed it, but had to wear my dark-black patch to avoid the brightness.   I took my bike for a short spin in the neighborhood on the widest lanes.  Dozens of neighbors out enjoying the Spring day.  I did some minor repairs around the house and tried to help with regular household chores (avoiding those requiring lifting or extensive bending.)

I will check in again in a few days.  So pleased to get the encouraging messages, thanks to all.