Yes, that is pretty normal – you’re still early.. My vision is also blurry as expected. It’s better than pre-surgery, however. As sutures are removed, astigmatism should be reduced, improving vision. If this is not completely resolved after a year or so, I will have a PRK laser finish the job.

Ive found some examples of wound strength after keratoplsaty.
In PK: eye will be damaged by punch of the fist, hit by ball etc. That means a lot of power. But I found also a report when wound was damaged while removing contact lense from the eye. That isnt much power.

In DALK: I found only one article. Graft stayed untouched after hit by elbow. Respectively it was in the healing period while sutures still presented. Sutures were ripped off, but graft itself stayed untouched in place. With no effect to the vision. That means it is much stronger.

This is, of course, information collected by amateur research using net so nothing reliable 😀 And Its almost sure that the wound strength would be different case by case.
But at least, some information.

Otherwise, some additional wound strength is achieved white laser assisted operation. It brings mechanical strength if the cut isnt flat http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/eyeforum/cases/case46/Figure%202.jpg . The pressure from inside of the eye holds graft on the place.
And greater space of the wound plus faster healing (less need of corticosteroids???) should help also.

And the scar after laser operation is less visible then it seams after manual operation. Just look at this. Its almost perfect. http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/eyeforum/cases/case46/Figure%207.jpg

Why I care about this things? Because they are last things on which I dont have satisfying answer 🙂 They are not most important to me, of course. But otherwise, if all will go well, these are only things that I can be aware of after healed operation.

One clinic which I will visit have proper laser. So I will try to get to the laser assisted operation. It brings only advantages (respectively only disadvantage is cost of that procedure… 🙁 )

I will write report after talk with surgeon, if someone is interested 😀

I have also confirmed this on my end, and edited my response below. Quote: “With DALK, there is increased wound strength compared
with the PK wound, which is subjected to the prolonged
use of topical corticosteroids to prevent immune
rejection, and there is decreased risk of cataract progression
and less compromised local ocular surface immunity.” … from this paper: http://www.assocheratocono.org/public2/documenti/DALK%20alternative%20to%20PK%20AAO%20report%20%28Ophthalmology%202011%29.pdf

Answers (I am not a physician, so these are not medical advice – always confirm my opinions with a trained doctor.)

1) All corneal grafts require that you over-protect your eye for life.. I do not think there is a greater strength in the wound between DALK and PK as the differences are at the extreme rear of the cornea – the Decement’s layer (remains after DALK, removed after PK). In either case, the wound never heals back as strong as a normal cornea. I wear safety glasses during sport and yardwork, and use care never to rub my eye. I have Spring allergies (which can be bad in Kentucky) so am careful to treat the itch with antihistamines daily to avoid the temptation to rub. It must be a conscious effort forever. By the way … since I was diagnosted with severe Keratoconus years ago, I’ve been over-protecting my “good” eye (knowing that injury to it would render me functionally blind.) So this habit of protecting is not new to me.

2) Mine is still with sutures, so cannot say. People cannot even see differences with the sutures, however, so I expect the cosmetic impact to be negligible. For me, it’s the least of my Worries!!!

Good luck to you!

Wish you the best and please, wish me the same 😀
And sorry for my english; its not my native language.