Seeing through thick fog after trabulectomy

[Astilbe]

I had a trabulectomy nearly 3 weeks ago. On the third day after the operation a thick fog came over my eye. I can hardly see out of it at all. A doctor at the clinic said it was a combination of cells and debris after the operation. He described it as a 'snow dome effect'. They cannot tell me when it will clear. and settle. I wondered if anybody else has had this problem?

[Eahldt]

I developed a sudden onset cataract after a trabeculectomy which isn’t common but also not unknown. Even after the cataract removal it took many weeks for my eyesight to clear properly so I guess it’s early days. It’s hard but patience and monitoring by the consultant are the key.

[Astilbe in reply to Eahldt]

Thank you for replying Eahldt. Was your eyesight like looking through thick fog or was it just blurry? I have heard of steroid induced cataract on this forum. I am so glad that your eyesight has cleared for you evenually.

I had a Presserflo shunt in my other eye 6 months ago. That worsened my eyesight and pressure, initially 10 has gone up again to 21. I was on 2 drops of Dexafree a day and that was increased to 4 drops a day last week. They are trying that instead of going straight onto Timolol drops again.

[Eahldt in reply to Astilbe]

Until I had the cataract removed everything was dark and I was badly affected by light. After cataract removal I described it as looking through a net curtain or having a bridal veil over my head. I guess that’s the same as fog, The good news is it gradually cleared.

[Astilbe in reply to Eahldt]

Thanks so much for your replay Eahldt. Yes, I think mine could be described as looking through a thick net curtain as you describe. It is reassuring to know that it will eventually clear, of course nobody can say how long that will take. Great that you have improved.

[Eahldt]

I hope you also see improvement soon.

[bessygo]

Has the fogginess cleared up and do you know what your pressures are? Hoping that things are clearing up for you. Keep us posted.

[Astilbe in reply to bessygo]

Hi Bessygo, thank you for asking.

No the fogginess hasn't cleared from trabulectomy.. It will have been 3 weeks since operation tomorrow. Occasionally it clears a bit but then goes back to being thick fog. I have been sleeping sitting up in the hope that it will help. The pressure in that eye last Tuesday was 7 so that is good.

However in my other eye, which had a Presserflo shunt put in 6 months ago, the pressure has suddenly gone up (it was 8 and now is 17). they tried upping the steroid drops again (Dexafree) from 2 drops a day to 4. It didn't help so back down to 2 drops a day and see whet the pressure is next appointment on Tuesday. It looks as though I will have to start using eye drops (probably Timolol) again which is very disappointing. The vision in that eye is not great.

Because of the damage to my optic nerves my target pressures are 10 or lower.

I also have developed facial and eye socket neuralgia which is painful.

Sorry for long reply, it is so kind of you to ask and I usually don't like moaning about things but I am feeling a bit down about it at present. However I am optimistic that things will improve.

Thanks again.

[bessygo]

Don't worry about moaning I moan to myself all day since I've lost more vision and I hate when the dr saysmy visual fields are "stable" I am being offered surgery and trying to settle on a Dr I trust and since I research all the different limited options for my already very low IOP (there are a lot of "eye factory drs" here in Florida, in the States, since there are so many patients and not enough drs in my area .) As far the fogginess, do the drs think it is bleeding that hasn't settled? Or is it more like a blurriness which I know can occur when the pressure is low and the eye has to settle. As far the Preserflo eye, have they "needled" it since perhaps, it has "scarred" over and that is why it is not working? The Preserflo usually has very good results, I wish we had it in the US. It is still under "clinical trials" even though it's been used in Europe for a longtime and has just been approved in Canada. So my option is the Xen Gel which is similar the Preserflo, since now some drs are implanting it "externo" outside the eye like the Preserflo, rather than using the injector which inserts it from inside. When it is done externally there's more control with the "bleb" and there is usually less scarring over. So, they haven't said anything about your Preserflo being "scarred" over? Have you had it "needled"and that has failed? So sorry for all you troubles.