A star basketball player — sidelined by a rare eye infection — could return to the court as soon as next season, thanks to eye care specialists from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Tyler McKinney was Iowa’s "Mr. Basketball" at Urbandale High School. His success continued at Creighton University in Omaha, where he was the starting point guard. But in November 2003, Tyler started having problems with his right eye, and everything changed.
McKinney came to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where specialists in the department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences discovered a rare amoeba — called acanthamoeba — growing in his right eye. "If you have a cut in your contact or it gets in your contact case, it can grow and get in your eye," McKinney said. "Then it’s a tough parasite to kill because it puts a protective shell over it."
Because of the damage caused by the organism, McKinney needed a new cornea. He received his first transplant in March 2004 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, but the infection did not improve. A second surgery in April 2004 — and another new cornea — was needed.
"Most of these infections can be controlled with surgery and the medications," said John Sutphin, M.D., UI professor of ophthalmology, and medical director for the Iowa Lions Eye Bank. "Sometimes these bugs just don’t give up, but we’re hopeful now that this is going to do it. We do have patients where we have to do three or four transplants for amoeba," he said. "We have some where only have to do one, and rarely — one in 100 — lose their eye from amoeba. So were still in the group that’s hopeful."
McKinney said his fans helped him through the tough times, especially while he was hospitalized so far from home. "It’s nice to have support from everyone, just knowing that people care about you and are praying for you," McKinney said. "It’s helps you get through some hard days."
Because he has made so much progress, doctors say McKinney may be able to join his Creighton teammates on the court in the 2004-05 season.
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