I want to hear from anybody who has had an Ahmed valve fitted

[P0inteN0ire]

I have had Uveitis for over 5 years . In June 2020 I had an Ozurdex implant which worked very well. In December2020 I had a second Ozurdex implant and the pressure in my eye rose to a very high level and damaged the optic nerve. I now have Glaucoma and my vision is severely limited.

My consultant spoke to me about fitting an Ahmed valve to control the pressure and try to prevent further damage.

I would like to hear from any body who has had this done.

1. How well the procedure went (pain/discomfort)

2. How long was the recovery period

3. Is it durable for a long term or is maintenance required.

After su8ffering extreme damage to my sight i am very wary of any other procedure and would be grateful for any feedback about this .

[Curls1]

Hello

Our situations sound very similar. I've had uveitis for the same time frame as you. I respond to steriods too.

My bouts of uvetis were initially treated with steriod and pressure reducing drops until last summer when I was diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes.

I was initially given laser treatment. This didn't work. Then my local - and now previous consultant! - did lens replacement treatment in my right eye. The pressures remained high.

I moved to Bristol eye hospital. My new consultant - a glaucoma expert- worked with the uvetis consultants there and strongly recommended tube and shunt surgery - using a valve like the one you've been recommended - for my left eye. She explained that there would be a 6 - 12 week recovery period.

I had the surgery in August. It was under local anesthesitic and painless.

I was shocked by losing vision completely afterwards. I had to use several different types of drops and take oral steriods for about a month. My eye sight slowly came back. It is much better now than before the surgery. I use one steriod drop a day in this eye. The pressures are low and stable. I'll need lens replacement at some point as I have a cateract.

Having done some research, tube and shunt surgery is found to be very effective for uveitis. Wish I'd been offered this in the first place as my period of high pressures damaged my left optic nerve. I'll be having tube and shunt in the right as it still gets inflamed if I stop the steriod drops. My consultant has considered a steriod implant, but knowing that it might increase the pressures, surgery is a better option.

I hope this has answered your questions. How rare to a fellow uveitis sufferer! More than happy to chat further.

[P0inteN0ire in reply to Curls1]

Hello,Thanks very much for sharing your experiences with me.

It was very interesting to hear of your experience with the valve.

I was given the impression by the consultant that the recovery would only be a couple of weeks and there was no mention of loss of sight during the recovery.

It certainly has given me something to think about.

Obviously it is not possible to continue indefinitely with eye drops to reduce the pressure, however I'm not in a position to be off work for a couple of months at this time following an operation.

As for the Uveitis,. That consultant thinks that I should have another implant.

I'm almost sure that I will not.

The risk of high pressure causing further damage is very worrying. Also the fact that the implant is only effective for 4-5 months and needs to be repeated every 6 months.

My next appointment is at the end of April, and by that time I have to decide which path to take.

All the best to you and good luck for the future.

[Hula48]

Hi, I have had scleritis and uveitis in my left eye for about 15 years at least - that was when it was first diagnosed but it was likely many more years. I had a trab in 93, for glaucoma caused by inflammation and that helped for a long time, then had an Ahmed valve in 2006. The pressure has been fine there ever since, 13 or less. It was painful for about a week and I was on a lot of meds, steroids etc. I'm a steroid responder so my family was catching it in the neck.... temperament!!! It took a few weeks to be absolutely 100%, but the pressure was gone from inside my head.... which had been there so long I was barely aware of it any more, just that everything felt better. However, the other eye which had been clear before that, soon started to develop pressure, so I have now had a trab in that eye. Next thing was cataracts, which were dealt with during lockdown and I now don't need specs for the 1st time since 1963! Well, only for reading and the cheapo £1.50 ones are enough. I lost a bit of visual field in the 1st eye, pre-tube, and likely pre-trab. Would not like to rely on it alone. If pressure starts to go high in the good eye, we will be going for a tube right away.... a Baerveldt, apparently... but it's about 13 just now. I can still drive tho I'm in my 70s and have been having inflammation since I was 20. Obviously I am on drops night and morning and for me everything has to be without preservative. Pills too, but I'm fine. Tho I have had a long history, I am aware of how lucky I am and how good my doctors have been. Nobody looks forward to ops, but mine have made such a difference to the quality of my life. There was really no option for me.... I'd have gone blind. Hope things turn out well for you.

[P0inteN0ire in reply to Hula48]

Good Morning and Happy Easter.I am very grateful for your response.

Your experience with the Ahmed valve has given me a great deal of encouragement.

I am much happier to go ahead with the procedure and the fact that the pressure is your eye is now well controlled and is functioning well after some years is very good news.

I still have concerns about the uveitis in the same eye, but I'll look into that a bit more after I have the valve fitted.

Good Luck to you for the future.