Hello all, I am new here, and have had Glaucoma for a number of years, and take three different types of drops, which as far as I'm concerned are working fine, but apparently they are not, in my right eye. I woke up one morning a couple of years ago with the bottom third of my vision in the right eye blurred, I since have seen 4 different consultants, who all have said a different diagnosis for this, cataract, trauma, cancer, now just one of those things at my age 70.
Anyway I now have to go for surgery to my right eye, after sitting in the clinic for 4+ hours then being told I need an op i just said yes ok, just to get out of there, so i elected to have a local, but have to admit i am terrified of having needles put in to my eyes, so just wondered if anyone could enlighten me, and is it going to be as painful as i imagine its going to be. They will not let me change or cancel saying if i did its likely they would discharge me from their care, Thank you for reading this, its a bit long winded
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floki7
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I’ve had various ops and procedures carried out over the years and have never felt any pain or been aware of anything going in my eye. It will be fine, all you will feel is a bit of pressure. In my experience the anaesthetists who do the eye block are particularly nice and calming. You will have to lie still but I have always had a nurse holding my hand with instructions to squeeze it if I need to move or feel a cough coming on. I hope this reduces some of your anxiety and all goes well for you.
Thank you very much for your reply, I am feeling a lot happier now, i was going to cancel and let nature take its course, but i am convincing my self to have it done, thank you again.
Floki7 you have been through a lot the last few years and now to be told you need a trabeculectomy I can totally understand your fear and apprehension.I had a trab 5 weeks ago and I can confirm as 1inana said the actual procedure isn't painful , I was aware my eye was being worked on but no pain. You also cannot see what is being done as your face is covered in a gauze drape.
I was terrified too but the thought of it is much worse than the actual surgery . In fact I am in probably going to have a trab in second eye and though I am obviously not looking forward to it I do know what to expect.
All the operating staff were very kind and a nurse even offered to hold my hand to help stop me being scared.
My eye is now recovered I am no longer taking any drops in operated eye and it looks just as it did before the surgery.
Thank you very much that has helped a lot, I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from the side of my nose 2 years ago the surgeon went in blind on two occasions, 4 injections each time that was fine after the 2nd result he said we still have not got it so i recommend moes surgery where you stay in hospital all day un till they eventually dig it all out, I went in 4 times during the day, with 6 injections each time, that was an experience, then a skin graft with a general anesthetic 4 days later and i had no problem with the whole series of ops, but this is different when it involves your eyes and needles, but thanks again for your reply, much appreciated, and good health to you.
You have certainly dealt with a lot health-wise and that is a lot of operations to deal with, which you clearly did. My eyes are the first issue I have ever had and yes I agree with you it takes it to a whole new level. You really don't know what instruments surgeon is using and I am petrified of needles too but I'm more scared of losing my vision.
Afterwards you have to take steroid and anti biotic drops and make sure you don't bend over or lift anything heavy for first four weeks, I actually found time passed relatively quickly.
I had trab surgery in my right eye last July,I know how you feel I was petrified and told myself I wasn't going to go through it,I came to my senses ,had it done with local,and I promise you it's nowhere near as bad as you imagine,takes about an hour and the nurse held my hand all the way through it, definitely worth it not to lose eyesight completely.
Hi Floki, I have had the same news and have to have a trabuclectomy. I’m 71 and having it on 6th May. To say I am terrified would be an understatement. I inherited glaucoma from my late father, who had the same op. I am assured that things are much more advanced since then, but I am still very apprehensive and scared. I know exactly how you feel. All I would say is it’s not meant to be painful and you don’t feel anything - that’s what I’m hoping anyway!
Hello Redshoes15, thanks for your input, I am having a pre op Covid test on this coming Monday, then self isolate and the op on Wednesday afternoon, with a local anesthetic, I asked the consultant, what the difference between the two is apart from the obvious, he replied a local is more painful but better, so that's what I'm having ! Will post on here after, probably after i have seen the consultant on the Thursday next day, so will let you know how it went and what to expect, Glaucoma UK have an excellent booklet they can send you or you can download from their website if that helps. Good luck. 🙂🙂
Well had my Trab surgery yesterday afternoon, all seemed to go well, and i have to say the fear of the operation, far outweighed the actual procedure, had numbing drops first then 4 injections after, only one at the top of the eye was a bit painful, but only for a few seconds ! Had a top up halfway through, and an antibiotic injection at the end, and didn't feel either, felt the scalpel being used which at times was uncomfortable but not painful, no more than if you shone a bright light in your eye. So just hope it can stay infection free, got to see the consultant which i thought was to day, but have an appointment for next Wednesday. Vision is very blurry today of course, not painful just a little warm and feels like a bit of grit in the eye from the sutures, and have a months supply of various drops, 3 drops x 4 times a day, plus my usual in the other eye, and need to wear a shield at night or when outside, so on the whole all good, so far ! 😎
I am so glad Floki 7 that's your op over and done with and that you did find the thought of it much worse than actual surgery itself. You were brave too having local rather than general. I found my eye gritty initially but it didn't last, I found paracetamol helped with discomfort.
Infection is always a concern but I just manically washed my hands and all was fine. The drops are a pain but you do soon get into a routine with them .
Hi Witchie346,Thanks for your advice in the past it was all very true, and yes eye is gritty, with a it of an ache, which is to be expected, drops are a pain as i cant see to put them in, wife has been doing them for me, but she works four mornings a week from Saturday till Tuesday, so those days i cant put them in on the 4 hour intervals, so 6am then 1pm rest of the day is fine, though when my site is less blurry i can manage myself to put them in. My wife works in a Hospice so i am constantly washing hands in Sterile solution, but will all be worth it in the end (hopefully )
Good to hear from you. Hopefully blurriness will go pretty soon and it will be much easier to put drops in as you say. I did put quite a few drops on my cheeks instead of in my eyes !!! I actually realised I was going to run out of drops and had to request extra from GP surgery. It's good you have your wife to help in the meantime, as long as you are managing to put 4 lots of drops in I shouldn't think the longer spell between 6am and 1pm would be an issue. Constant hand cleaning I guess is a way of life now and with your wife's job it definitely is.
I am sure all of this will be well worth it for you.
Well done floki7, bet you are glad it’s over and done with. Now the important bit, as you say, is keeping it infection free and coping with all the drops. I hope it all heals quickly for you. My op is next Thursday (6/5) and your post has reassured me that it’s not as bad as you think. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it though!
Hi Redshoes15 No it is not something to look forward to, the unknown, thats human nature, but its the thought of scalpels, needles and eyes that don't go together well ! But be assured it's not as bad as our brain would have us believe. I wish you the best of luck for next Thursday, let me know how it went, and you will be fine.
Thanks so much for your encouragement. The reason I’ve been so scared is my dad had the same op many years ago , his eye got infected and he lost the sight in that eye. But his glaucoma was more advanced and not picked up in time to do anything. I think things are now much improved as regards infection etc. and they are doing these procedures all the time. That’s what I am telling myself anyway! Look after yourself and follow all instructions 😊😊
Oh your poor father, but yes things have improved, and we are lucky to have the NHS, as i heard my surgeon say to one of the nurses in attendance this operation would cost around $12000 in America. And what you are telling yourself is very true, take care.
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