UPDATE - aqueous shunt implantation

[Calam1ty]

Yesterday my partner went back to Moorfields in the early morning. I couldn't go with him so was waiting for news. It was all good. His pressure has gone from 3 post surgery to 8. He got a device to allow him to put his own drops in. His eye is looking good, his vision has slightly improved each day. The redness is there but not as angry. Bad news was: Cataract worse still. His Eythalm drops are increased from every 3 to every 2 hours - that's the one that's tough to put in - sigh. And he has yet to try to use his new device - must practise! All in all, it's very good news. The surgeon said that his recovery is faster (I think she means physical, not necessarily ocular) than she usually sees, but he's relatively young (52 for those who've asked), quite strong, fairly fit and very careful so that's OK. Right now, the battle is with getting him to slow down his activity, and OCD-need to clear and clean all day, as well as doing his drops on time so he gets each one in as ordered. The support here has been very helpful and Glaucoma UK has also answered a question for me on Facebook- while the helpline is closed, it's good to know they have a presence elsewhere. Thanks to all who have read this and answered.

[Lynne-H]

Hi Calam1ty

Pleased to hear that you have had some positive news.

What I`m going to tell you may not be relevant with regard to your partner`s problem but I just thought I would mention it. I had a similar experience.

Nine years ago I had an operation to repair a macular hole and the surgeon also did a lens replacement on the same eye because he said it would give me a bigger drainage channel which would help my glaucoma. Everything went well with the operation but my vision remained cloudy. What had happened and apparently does sometimes happen even with straightforward lens replacement is that the lens itself becomes cloudy. It is called posterior capsular opacification.

This can be corrected very easily in the outpatients dept with laser treatment but it can only be done when everything else has settled. I had to wait a few months before I had this treatment and I had to have it done twice. I can now see clearly in that eye - just a bit of distortion from the macular hole op.

In your partner`s case this may not be the problem and his vision may return to normal naturally but I just wanted to reassure you that if this is the problem it can easily be corrected.

Lynne

[Calam1ty in reply to Lynne-H]

Thanks Lynne-H - very interesting and hopeful. We don't expect his vision to return to normal after the cataract is removed since this is steroid-induced glaucoma after acute retinal necrosis (from shingles). So at the time the dexamethasone drops were started there had already been necrosis from the virus, and then the glaucoma (he is a steroid responder) has also done irreversible damage. However, I feel confident that, after the cataract is removed some time next year, he will be seeing a whole better than right now. Thank you so much for your insight!

[Lynne-H in reply to Calam1ty]

Well I wish you both all the best and hope that you get the best possible outcome.

Take care.

Lynne