I had my pre-op assessment for a trabeculectomy yesterday and was told the first aftercare appointment is likely to be at 2 weeks instead of the day after the op. Appointments would then only be on an ‘as and when’ required basis. This was introduced at this eye hospital during the pandemic and is considered to be acceptable. Has anyone had their op done with such limited follow up and if so how did you get on - did you think it was adequate? It’s very different from the description in the Glaucoma UK Trabeculectomy booklet. Thanks for any replies
Trabeculectomy post op care: I had my pre-op... - Glaucoma UK
Trabeculectomy post op care
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46 Replies
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Based on my own recent experience I would query the 2 week wait. I had a trabeculectomy in my left eye on 4 March. Five years ago I had the same operation in the right eye and the recovery was straightforward. This time however, after the operation, my consultant judged the pressure to be too low and said the anterior chamber needed reinflating. I saw him the day after my initial operation and a week after that so, two weeks after the first operation, I had the reinflation procedure. After that he saw me weekly for a while then fortnightly. Obviously I hope this doesn't happen to you but it is one of the possible outcomes, the others being too high pressure or, best of all, expected pressure after a trabeculectomy.
• in reply toEahldt
Thank you very much for your reply, I hope you have now fully recovered from your second op. I am going to contact the eye clinic secretary about the follow up appointments and hope….
Eahldt• in reply to
It might be worth contacting the consultant 's secretary for clarification and to voice your concerns. In my experience, again!, consultants' secretaries in a variety of fields have been sympathetic and helpful. My glaucoma consultant's secretary is no different. She can't change the consultant's decision but has talked to him about any concerns arising in between appointments and got back to me asap. A two week wait doesn't sound like general procedure from what others say and would undoubtedly have delayed my follow up treatment.
Very surprised to hear about the two week delay post trabeculectomy.
I have had two aqueous micro shunts since December last year, apparently similar to Trab but not so invasive. The surgeon explained how important it was to attend the post op checks because they could monitor any labile pressures or other problems. I was also able to ask questions then.
Another patient had a pressure in the 40's the day after the Trab. It is also so good to have the eye dressing removed the next day and feel in expert hands.
I had a suture that was not healing so quickly soon after the op , so they told me exactly what to report. In fact everything did heal well so I am very gratefull.
Do make sure they give you an emergency phone number to contact if you are worried post op.
If you asked Glaucoma UK about the two weeks delay then I am sure they would be able to advise.
Good luck.
• in reply tomuddledme
You don’t sound at all muddled! And thank you so much for your reply. Trish at Glaucoma UK has suggested following this up with the eye hospital. It’s really helpful to be able to ask other people what happened with their appointments.
Hi I am also surprised that your first post op check is at 2 weeks, although I don't have any medical credentials at all. I did however have a trab in Feb and the following day at my check up I had a blood clot blocking the drainage bleb and my pressure was up at 30 and consultant had to massage eye to get pressure down. My pressure was also at 30 at my one week check up and again the consultant had to massage my eye. So no check up until 2 weeks for me would certainly have been inadequate and detrimental to the success of my op.
I also had my eye shield removed and my eye bathed the day after and an eye test given. I saw my consultant every week for first month and then after a further month and this time my check up is due in July after 12 weeks.
I really hope you have no issues after your op and I'm sure they will give you a contact number for any emergencies. I would give Glaucoma UK a call and seek their advice if you do have concerns.
All the best and let us know how you get on.
• in reply to
Hi Witchie, it seems that you and nobody else who has been kind enough to reply have had their first two appointments delayed so I’m going to find out more. It sounds v risky! Hope all is going well for you now.
• in reply to
I definitely would find out more as a 2 week delay does not seem adequate post op care to me. It actually seems very remiss. I really hope all this hasn't worried you unduly but for myself I found other people's experiences invaluable. I am not due to be seen again until middle of July and from day 10 after trab I actually felt fine.
Hopefully you will get this post op care issue sorted out as you don't need all this prior to your op.
Yes after my Trab surgery I saw the consultant a week later, then the following week, now a 2 week gap before I see him Wednesday 26th
• in reply tofloki7
All the best for your check up tomorrow. Redshoes had a good appointment yesterday so it's your turn tomorrow. 🍀
floki7• in reply to
Thank you, it seems a lot better now, hopefully the consultant will agree, will keep you informed ! Good news then for Redshoes15, hope it stays that way.I read on line that Worcester hospital can now carry out a different type of surgery replacing the need for a Trab, apparently very few consultants have a license to carry it out, its less invasive and involves a stent the size of an eyelash. I thought that a stent was used often for some people, so must be a alternative type, think it was in the Guardian on line. Hope you are keeping well !
• in reply tofloki7
That's positive that your eye seems much better fingers crossed the consultant does indeed agree. I know a shunt is used on NHS when trab isn't suitable but a tiny stent on NHS sounds great, especially the less invasive part. My surgeon does I Stents at his private practice and I am going to ask him about about it at my next appt. Someone on here I think said they don't reduce the pressure as much as a trab and work best with mild to moderate vision loss, I wonder if that's what they are doing at Worcester ?
I am well,just beyond fed up with the awful weather, we had 2 minutes of sunshine and now it's freezing and threatening to rain again 😖🌧️.
floki7• in reply to
Ah the lovely scots weather ! Its a very long name of the op, will try to find it and post on here, hope all goes well with your next appointment !
• in reply tofloki7
Yeah definitely as do I would be interested in it for definite. Yes Scottish weather is the worst, I am wearing gloves at end of May !!!!
I need to make appt for eye test now 12 weeks have passed since trab so I will at least have an idea of how my eye pressure is. My bleb looks exactly how it should so fingers crossed 🤞
floki7• in reply to
Thats very good news, I remember my mother telling me a few years ago that they often had snow in June before now.
floki7• in reply to
Hydrus Microstent Glaucoma Surgery is a new type of stent surgery which has been proven to provide improved outcomes for patients. Worcester hospital page online .
• in reply tofloki7
Oh that sounds very positive, I will give that a Google . Thank you
floki7• in reply to
Pleasure.
Hi, Stent surgery is not suitable for everyone. Many of them are for mild to moderate glaucoma. I have attached the link to the MIGS website that has information on all of the stents with clear patient information.
• in reply toTrish_GlaucomaUK
Thank you Trish,that's really kind and helpful .
Good luck for your check up tomorrow Floki7. Hoping for best news 😊
Thank you, hope all is well with you, and will continue so.
Well all seems well today, consultant seems pleased my eye is healing well, showed me how to massage the eye, and to stop taking the eye drops this week, Hooray! Will see him again in 3 weeks, pressures post op were 9 first week, 8 second week, but 18 today, still cant do anything too strenuous but can now see to drive ok. I can now SEE light at the end of the tunnel lol !
Great news Floki! That is an excellent outcome, well done 😊
Thank you very much, fingers crossed for all of you too !
• in reply tofloki7
Excellent you are definitely on the right track now. Very happy for you 😃
I had a trab on 6th May. The consultant saw me the following day and is now seeing me every week until he is happy that everything is working well. The pressures can fluctuate a lot post-op until it all settles down, so I would definitely query the two week wait.
• in reply toRedshoes15
Hi Redshoes15 and thank you so much for replying. I hope everything is going well for you. Everyone is saying how important the early appointments are which is v v helpful to know.
Redshoes15• in reply to
No problem Lasgarn. We are all here to help each other and share information, which is so important for your future eye care. Very best of luck to you for your surgery - I hope all goes well for you x
I had my 1st trab in January 2021. My 1st follow up was right on the next day; then, after a week and the 3rd in 2 weeks time. further follow ups were after a month and then 3 months later - all from the day of the surgery.
• in reply toAmansalih
Hi Amansalih, thank you for your reply. It’s very helpful.
Trish_GlaucomaUKPartner
As others have said, you are normally seen the following day to check your eye pressure to make sure everything is ok and the operation was successful. You would then be seen every week( possibly 2 weeks) within the recovery period which is 6-8 weeks. It could be the consultant meant you would be seen 2 weeks after the initial next day post op appointment but I would call the eye secretary to clarify this and also make them aware of your concerns regarding the 2 week gap.
• in reply toTrish_GlaucomaUK
Hi Trish, thank you for your reply. This was the information I was given by the nurse who did my pre-op assessment. She said some surgeons see patients the day after, then at weekly intervals or as necessary. Other surgeons have decided it’s not necessary to see patients at all until two weeks later, which I am concerned about. When I queried this she said I could ask before signing the consent form and decide at that stage not to go ahead with it. That’s not ideal is it either for me or someone else who could have used the appointment!
Trish_GlaucomaUKPartner
It might still be a good idea just to call the eye secretary to check with your concerns.
• in reply toTrish_GlaucomaUK
Thanks Trish, I will take your advice.
I recently have had my second trab and although I was seen the next day and a week after, the subsequent appointments were less frequent than on my first. My local Specsavers have been very helpful and will do a pressure test whenever I ask. So I have popped in regularly, although not maybe as accurate as the hospital, by knowing what my other eye generally reads I am happy that it is good enough and has kept me calmer. Worth considering if you are concerned as you could phone through if it was high or low.
• in reply toGlaucomaMe
Hi, thank you so much for your reply. Yours and others replies are very helpful. My optician is excellent and friendly so I will keep that in mind, like you say it helps if you know you can get support from somewhere other than the hospital when the appointments are being reduced. Hope all is going well for you now.
GlaucomaMe• in reply to
Thanks, I THINK that it is going okay, but it is four weeks since I saw the consultant with another two to go. That’s were a weekly pressure check at my optician has been very reassuring as my pressure has remained consistent. But as the others say, phone the consultant’s secretary, in my experience they have always been very helpful, to clarify what should happen. Good luck.
You need to have your eye patch removed at next day appointment. Nurse also cleaned my eye. Think you need to be assertive! Angela
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