Bleb massage

[Chopper01]

After moving to South Wales, from Birmingham, and obviously changing GP and getting myself registered as a Glaucoma patient with the latest cal health authority, I couldn't help but notice how different things were done here.

Firstly, I'd never had photos taken of the back of my eyes, and also, never had my eyes properly dilated either.

I must say, the Welsh NHS, well what I've experienced so far as a Princess of Wales Hospital patient, have been so more thorough than what I'd experienced back in Birmingham.

I was asked at PoW hospital do I massage my blebs. I'd never heard of that before, and the only time anything like that was done, was by the consultants post Trabeculectomy.

I try to massage them often, but do forget. But was told that 4 or 5 times a day helps lower the IOC pressures.

I do find it difficult sometimes though to find my blebs through closed eyelids, especially the one on my right eye, as it is a wider, flatter bleb.

Does anybody else have tips, advice or experience with regard to the bleb massaging?

[Hidden]

I've been shown how to massage my pressures down and was told to do it at the bottom of the eye, not actually over the bleb. Then my primary consultant (who did the surgery) told me not to do it as there is too much potential for doing damage. So very mixed messages.

[Hidden]

Hi Chopper I was healing too quickly after my trab and was taught how to do an ocular massage by my surgeon. I used an inwards and upwards motion at bottom of eye not at the bleb itself. It worked and got my pressure down and then my surgeon told me to stop. That was in February and my pressure is still at 16 with no drops

[camonline486 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Witchie, ocular massage sounds very interesting, do you know where I can read more about it?

[Hidden in reply to camonline486]

Sorry I've no idea my consultant just showed me how to do it in an effort to try and stop me healing so quickly after my trab. I did it twice a day for two weeks and got my pressures down and then didn't have to do it anymore.

[Chopper01 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Witchie,

The consultant I saw at Princess of Wales Hospital said to press above the blebs, and down, and hold for about 4 seconds, to open up the channel a bit better.

[Hidden in reply to Chopper01]

Chopper ,I watched a video on you tube and they did it just as you described ,whereas I just did exactly as my consultant showed me and it worked . I guess each consultant has their own way of doing things. I was scared enough doing it at the bottom of my eye ,I really don't think I could have gone anywhere near the actual bleb.

[Chopper01 in reply to Hidden]

It isn't that bad actually. It's done with your eyelid closed obviously. The biggest issue I find is trying to find the bleb through a closed eyelid. Not that easy. Oh, the other issue is trying to remember to do it. 🤣

[Hidden in reply to Chopper01]

It definitely seems more complicated than the method I used . I just got into a routine of doing it after cleaning my teeth morning and night.

[Stairs10]

Well this is news to me. Wondering if I should have been doing massage. I had a stent inserted in March but apparently scar tissue now blocks the stent. So my pressure is higher than pre surgery. I'll add that to my questions at my next appointment. Thanks