Would You Have a Cornea Transplant in my Position?

[Southern Belle]

Last week my eye doctor said my eyes were healthy enough that I could start considering a cornea transplant for my left eye. He said he wasn't pushing for it though, but if I wanted it I could have it.

Pros:
~ I would be able to see out of both eyes (I'm totally blind in my left eye)

Cons:
~ I'm a high-risk patient and chances are only 50-50
~ My left eye's vision would NOT be 20/20, at most it would be as good as my right eye's vision
~ It could possibly be temporary, lasting anywhere from a day to a few years, and then it could cloud up again
~ Even if it worked, if it was rejected and failed it would destroy my eye and I'd need a glass eye
~ I'd have a cornea out of a dead person's body

Now, naturally I'm not gonna do that, I'll save it as a backup in case something happens to my right eye. But I realize I dunno what it's like to see out of both eyes and I'm wondering if anyone who does would think it was worth it. If you were to lose vision in one eye would you risk all of that to get it back?

 

[bub]

Euh...the biggest change is that you can evaluate the distances better with 2 eyes.

 

[ARealConservative]

I don't know what I would do.

this is one of those things where I need to be in your shoes to truly evaluate.

I'm assuming depth perception is the major issue for you currently? Can you drive? Is there anything you want to do and are prevented from doing because of this limitation?

 

[Southern Belle]

I don't know what I would do.

this is one of those things where I need to be in your shoes to truly evaluate.

I'm assuming depth perception is the major issue for you currently? Can you drive? Is there anything you want to do and are prevented from doing because of this limitation?

Nope I can't drive. My right eye's vision is anywhere from 20/200 to 20/80 with corrective glasses or contact. That means if it worked the transplant would be close to that. I doubt I'd be able to drive anyway.

 

[ARealConservative]

Nope I can't drive. My right eye's vision is anywhere from 20/200 to 20/80 with corrective glasses or contact. That means if it worked the transplant would be close to that. I doubt I'd be able to drive anyway.

It sounds like the best case scenario isn't a huge improvement where the worst case scenario is still pretty dang bad.

Based on what I know right now, I would skip the procedure and hope for medical advancements in the future.

 

[1069]

In fact, I was going to recommend a cornea transplant months ago, when you started that other thread about your eye problems.
But I decided not to mention it; I assumed you'd already explored that option, and that you weren't a candidate for it.
Absolutely I think it's something you should consider!
I've heard nothing but positive things about that particular surgery.

 

[Southern Belle]

It sounds like the best case scenario isn't a huge improvement where the worst case scenario is still pretty dang bad.

Based on what I know right now, I would skip the procedure and hope for medical advancements in the future.

Oh yeah that's exactly how I feel. I just wondered if someone who could see out of both eyes would feel differently.

 

[Southern Belle]

In fact, I was going to recommend a cornea transplant months ago, when you started that other thread about your eye problems.
But I decided not to mention it; I assumed you'd already explored that option, and that you weren't a candidate for it.
Absolutely I think it's something you should consider!
I've heard nothing but positive things about that particular surgery.

Thanks. Yeah I could have got it when I was 16 but my eye pressure went way up so I wasn't a candidate until, I guess, right now because my eye is okay for the moment... but I really don't think I'll have it, it sounds like too much hassle for not enough reward... If my vision could be better than my right eye's that might have been a different story...

I forgot to mention that if the transplant died he said it would lead to severe pain...

 

[ARealConservative]

Oh yeah that's exactly how I feel. I just wondered if someone who could see out of both eyes would feel differently.

It's a hard decision. Although perfect vision is ideal just having limited vision is something. My 2 year old has been diagnosed with two lazy eyes , meaning the traditional solution of patching the strong eye hasn't been working for her. If the problem isn't rectified within the next 5 years or so (timetable isn't really well known) she could completely lose her vision.

 

[Southern Belle]

It's a hard decision. Although perfect vision is ideal just having limited vision is something. My 2 year old has been diagnosed with two lazy eyes , meaning the traditional solution of patching the strong eye hasn't been working for her. If the problem isn't rectified within the next 5 years or so (timetable isn't really well known) she could completely lose her vision.

Oh, I'm sorry... What is lazy eye exactly?

 

[jfuh]

Oh yeah that's exactly how I feel. I just wondered if someone who could see out of both eyes would feel differently.

If finances are not an issue, go for it. There's little to loose as it seems that your left eye already isn't functioning anyway. The techniques for such transplants have been around for a long time so it's a fairly tried and trued operation that involves many automated machines - so relatively safe - safer than orbital re-entry for sure.
I say go for it and the best of luck to you. Hope to be able to see you here soon with both your eyes.:2razz:

 

[ARealConservative]

Oh, I'm sorry... What is lazy eye exactly?

There are different forms of lazy eye. She suffers from strabismus (refractive amblyopia is the other form) in both eyes.



Strabismic Amblyopia: Another common cause of lazy eye is strabismus. Strabismus, often referred to as a crossed or wandering eye, is a condition in which the brain is unable to properly align the eyes. As a result, one eye may point in or out, up or down. When the eyes are not pointing at the same place, two different pictures are being sent to the brain. Because the brain can't combine two obviously different pictures into a single image, the result is double vision. The brain is then forced to turn off the picture coming in from the misaligned eye to avoid seeing double. The child only uses his straight eye to see, and vision in the turned eye does not have a chance to develop. (See our web page on "Crossed Eyes" for more complete information on strabismus.)

 

[jfuh]

Oh, I'm sorry... What is lazy eye exactly?

Kinda like the eyes of a chamillion - the eyes look in different places.

 

[Southern Belle]

Yeah I thought about that too, jfuh. It's like my left eye doesn't exist unless I concentrate looking out of it by closing my right eye, and then it's like an inpenitrable blur... But functioning or not, it is my natural eye and it would be freaky to have someone else's cornea in there and I'd have to take medicine precisely on schedule so my body doesn't reject it for the rest of my life, making my life harder instead of easier, I still would have to wear glasses to read, and that's only if it worked. If it failed I'd be forced to watch my vision disappear and possibly have to get a glass eye, which is not my eye or someone else's eye but a glass object that would replace my natural eye with the same result.

About lazy eye, Ohhh I see... I used to think that's what 2 eyes did naturally, lol... But I hope the little girl gets here's fixed...

 

[1069]

Kinda like the eyes of a chamillion - the eyes look in different places.

Yeah, I've got a little bit of that effect going on, too.
I can see alright, but aesthetically, I think it can be a bit disconcerting.
Maybe it should've been fixed when I was younger, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse, so I'm not going to mess with getting it fixed now, just for cosmetic reasons.
Anyway, it sort of adds character.

 

[jfuh]

Yeah I thought about that too, jfuh. It's like my left eye doesn't exist unless I concentrate looking out of it by closing my right eye, and then it's like an inpenitrable blur... But functioning or not, it is my natural eye and it would be freaky to have someone else's cornea in there and I'd have to take medicine precisely on schedule so my body doesn't reject it for the rest of my life, making my life harder instead of easier, I still would have to wear glasses to read, and that's only if it worked. If it failed I'd be forced to watch my vision disappear and possibly have to get a glass eye, which is not my eye or someone else's eye but a glass object that would replace my natural eye with the same result.

About lazy eye, Ohhh I see... I used to think that's what 2 eyes did naturally, lol... But I hope the little girl gets here's fixed...

Yes that's true, as with any transplant that is a risk and a burden. However the matter is perspective.
If I were you, my only concerns would be with the medication portion and the whole rejection bit rather than looking out of the eyes of someone else (so to speak). But if it's something that you want that badly, the challenges are acceptable.

Otherwise the alternative would be to wait a few more years with stem cell research in which time your own cornea can be re-grown in a petri dish then transplanted back - no rejection. Yet even with the best projection that is still around 20 years away - that is if the morons can get their act together and do some real research as opposed to what is "the popular trend". Sorry I'm being bitter.

 

[jfuh]

Yeah, I've got a little bit of that effect going on, too.
I can see alright, but aesthetically, I think it can be a bit disconcerting.
Maybe it should've been fixed when I was younger, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse, so I'm not going to mess with getting it fixed now, just for cosmetic reasons.
Anyway, it sort of adds character.

With all resepect, that's wicked cool. I agree it adds character - well as long as it doesn't impede your normal daily routines.

 

[Southern Belle]

Yes that's true, as with any transplant that is a risk and a burden. However the matter is perspective.
If I were you, my only concerns would be with the medication portion and the whole rejection bit rather than looking out of the eyes of someone else (so to speak). But if it's something that you want that badly, the challenges are acceptable.

Otherwise the alternative would be to wait a few more years with stem cell research in which time your own cornea can be re-grown in a petri dish then transplanted back - no rejection. Yet even with the best projection that is still around 20 years away - that is if the morons can get their act together and do some real research as opposed to what is "the popular trend". Sorry I'm being bitter.

Ehh it's okay. Yeah they need to concentrate on stem cell research...

Wait a sec, just checking, isn't that where they raise a test tube baby and then take their organs or something? I just can't get what stem cell research is... Now if they took like, eye fluid from me and grew another cornea, out of my DNA that would be cool...

 

[ARealConservative]

Ehh it's okay. Yeah they need to concentrate on stem cell research...

Wait a sec, just checking, isn't that where they raise a test tube baby and then take their organs or something? I just can't get what stem cell research is... Now if they took like, eye fluid from me and grew another cornea, out of my DNA that would be cool...

LOL. Not quite. Generally stem cells come from developing fetal tissue as I understand it.

To use your DNA they would have to create an entire human clone of you, then remove it's eye.

 

[Southern Belle]

LOL. Not quite. Generally stem cells come from developing fetal tissue as I understand it.

To use your DNA they would have to create an entire human clone of you, then remove it's eye.

OH!! Never mind then, that would be horrible! The clone thing, I mean... But then what is Adult Stem cell research?

 

[ARealConservative]

OH!! Never mind then, that would be horrible! The clone thing, I mean... But then what is Adult Stem cell research?

Adult stem cells are found in our organs I believe.

I think the major difference is fetal stem cells can develop into any body part, adult stem cells are more limited *but not as limited as previously believed)

 

[Southern Belle]

Adult stem cells are found in our organs I believe.

I think the major difference is fetal stem cells can develop into any body part, adult stem cells are more limited *but not as limited as previously believed)

Ahh, well, all I need is a Cornea, that's why I figured it would be cool to just make a cornea out of Adult stem cells, or would extracting stem cells kill someone or distroy the organ?

 

[Stace]

Tough thing to think about.

I'm nearly blind in my left eye as well...and though I fail depth perception tests, I'm still able to judge distances well enough to drive. The only purpose my left eye serves me is peripheral vision....at least, that's all I notice it doing for me. I can't read out of my left eye. It's a lazy eye. They tried patches when I was little, they tried putting strong prescriptions in my glasses....nothing worked. I considered LASIK, but I was cautioned against it...I can't remember now why.

Best of luck to you. It's not easy going through life with such poor vision.

 

[ARealConservative]

Ahh, well, all I need is a Cornea, that's why I figured it would be cool to just make a cornea out of Adult stem cells, or would extracting stem cells kill someone or distroy the organ?

Extracting embryonic stem cells never killed anything in the first place, nor would it unless someone chose to get pregnant and abort the pregnancy for those cells.

Regarding adult stem cells? I really have no idea if the organ remains uneffected. as a complete layman, it seems possible.

 

[jfuh]

Ehh it's okay. Yeah they need to concentrate on stem cell research...

Wait a sec, just checking, isn't that where they raise a test tube baby and then take their organs or something? I just can't get what stem cell research is... Now if they took like, eye fluid from me and grew another cornea, out of my DNA that would be cool...

You're thinking cloning and what was shown in the movie "the island"
Stem cells are cells that have all their genes turned on and "some" mechanism here or there that shuts them off allows for the cells to become just about any cell of any organ. Thus the ability to grow only the organ itself without the need to grow an entire being.
Every cell in your body contains the same genetic material. But you ever wonder why it is that the same stuff becomes an eye while another becomes a heart? Or why it is that your hands separate, yet still grow to about the same length? That's what stem cell research does.
The potential of which is the ability to grow organs and then harvest them in the same way we do crops.
There would be no ethical concerns unless you have issue with the procedure of transplant itself of cutting open the body and so on.