Trabeculectomy

[ChrisNorthEast]

anyone out there had any significant reduction in pressure since Trabeculectomy? I hear this is the most certain way to guarantee reduced pressure. I hear that low teens is required to reduce pressure in order to stop progression or slow it to the least possible rate

[Wales99]

Hi I have so far! I was diagnosed October 2020 - late diagnosis because it was missed by my opticians. It’s only in my right eye at the moment but the pressure wouldn’t stay down. At one point it was 43. I have significant damage to the optic nerve & quite a lot of sight loss in that eye. I had a trab just over a year ago & the pressure so far has been 11 or round about there. It definitely is the gold standard of glaucoma care.

[ChrisNorthEast in reply to Wales99]

Great news can I ask how old you are I’m 46. Similar circumstances

[Wales99 in reply to ChrisNorthEast]

Yes of course! I’m 57. My cousin was diagnosed in her 40’s. It’s in my family my mum had it. I was so upset and angry at first that it had been missed despite me going for annual eye tests and telling them every time about my mum & how scared I was. I’ve calmed down now though & realised that no amount of crying & banging my chest isn’t going to change the situation- it is what it is & I just have deal with the situation now. Have you been diagnosed late? Do you know what type of glaucoma you have? You’ll get lots of advice on here. Also Glaucoma UK website is very good- lots of good info on there.

[Eyehelp5 in reply to Wales99]

Love this Wales99, ‘the gold standard of Glaucoma care’ - I’m on day 2 of recovery after my first Trab and these words are what I needed to hear! My pressure super low at 10/11 anyway but day 1 check in with consultant yesterday it’s sitting at 3 which is too low but v early days so I’m praying it comes back up a little before my next check in as have the dread of needing anymore procedures or agitation so soon!

[Wales99 in reply to Eyehelp5]

I think eye pressure goes up & down quite a lot at first. At least you’re being monitored. They’ll keep an eye on it (pun intended 😉)

[ChrisNorthEast]

I’m 46 late diagnosis. I’m gutted. I’m hoping I get that operation. I’m hoping they reduce pressure in my good eye too. I think it’s standard open angle. My pressure was late twenties in both

[Wales99 in reply to ChrisNorthEast]

I know. It’s such a shock when you are first diagnosed. I think I cried all day the next day. Honestly though, I think once it’s under control & managed well it’s unlikely that sight loss will happen.

[AlfredV]

Both of my eyes would peak over 50 at times before trabs. It has been a long path with my trabs - stitch removals, eye massages and multiple needling, but my pressures are now typically between 10-13.

In many instances they use adjustable stitches making it easier for post op adjustments.

[Ritualhazard in reply to AlfredV]

Interesting. Mine does too. On triple therapy, no more drops can be added but it still spikes up to mid 30s regularly and even up to 50 or so on occasion. Just has SLT but consultant doesn’t think it will work and thinks I’m heading for trab. Sounds like a “fun” journey but one that’s worth it for the destination. Any tips before I head down that way? Very glad to hear your pressures are now stable

[AlfredV in reply to Ritualhazard]

I wasn't on meds as I was unable to tolerate them. Amongst the 13 eye operations I've had, SLT was one of them which didn't appear to have an effect.

I guess the only tip I have is that post trab you have to be patient for your vision to return to normal. I was told a number of weeks, but in reality I could notice small improvements even several months later.

I also now believe that poor eye health could be a reflection of a larger systemic problem. Maybe consider if there are other things that could be improved about your health in general that might then be reflected in improved eye health.

[ChrisNorthEast]

Thanks for sharing

[JanD236]

Yes. My trab was 8 years ago and my pressure in that eye has been around 8 ever since.

[ChrisNorthEast in reply to JanD236]

Oh that’s great, any further sight loss? How old are you please

[JanD236 in reply to ChrisNorthEast]

I’m 62 and my sight has been stable ever since. It hadn’t been prior to the trab.

The pressure in my non-trab eye is usually around 14, maintained by drops.

[ChrisNorthEast in reply to JanD236]

Thanks Jan

[Longwalks3]

I was diagnosed with glaucoma in my early 40s about 20 years ago. It's in both eyes and my pressures were in the 40s in both eyes on diagnosis. Unfortunately I had damage to my visual fields in both eyes. I was on multiple drops until 2018 when my consultant decided to do a trabeculectomy in my left eye. Unfortunately this was not successful despite several revision operations. I think I was very unlucky in that I have a high degree of myopia which makes my eye tissue very thin, fragile and difficult to work with. I have also been told by a a very good surgeon who has treated me subsequently that the trab was done too late and many years of treatment with aggressive drops had damaged the surface of my eye. In his opinion the outcome is usually better if surgery is not delayed for a long time. To cut a long story short, I just wanted to let you know that even if the trab does not work for you (and it probably will!) They will find a surgical solution. I have had tube surgery in both eyes, laser treatment, cataract surgery and something called canaloplasty. I am now drop free as I can no longer tolerate any medications and my pressures are around 10 -14 in both eyes. I still see quite well enough to lead a pretty normal life although I have lost my driving licence. Good luck with your trab op. I'm hope it works well for you.

[ChrisNorthEast]

Many thanks

[Eahldt]

My first trab about 7 years ago brought the pressure down in my right eye to about 13 but subsequently back up to about 17. Last year it was decided to do a trab on my left eye. It was a shock to me but I assume this is the early intervention which didn’t happen for my right eye where I’ve lost significant sight. I now use drops in my right eye but not my left. Pressure is currently stable at around 12 in both eyes and that’s the surprising thing which I don’t think anyone else has mentioned. I’ve had a conversation with the consultant about current research into the way in which the brain works to balance the eyes. I’m 71 still driving (except in the dark) and leading a normal life. Treatment has improved in the 15 years since my diagnosis so hopefully for you there will be lots more beneficial progress in research and treatments.

[Hidden]

Hi Chris I'm 60 and was diagnosed late with angle closure glaucoma 4 years ago, I have moderate vision loss in one eye and minimum in other. This happened despite never missing an eye appointment. My pressures were never more than 27 but I was losing vision but I was still losing vision. Drops weren't keeping the pressures low enough so2 cataract ops and 2 trabs later my eyes are stabilised at 16 in worst eye and 13 in better eye. I'm on no eye drops at all. I have thick corneas which can give a false high reading so my consultant is happy with these pressures. I just carry on my life as normal and tend not to even think about my eyes unless I have an eye appointment coming up .

[Limesbunglaow]

Hi I have open angle glaucoma and gave had a trabulectomy in both eyes . The right eye was done about 4 years ago and the pressure immediately dropped and has stayed at around 9 ever since . The left eye was done more recently ( probably 2 years ago) and the pressure although initially low has been creeping up to 16-18 . I now have an appointment for a small op to flush out the channel in the hope that it will reduce the pressure .

[ChrisNorthEast]

Great thank you

[praying4cure]

Hi, Chris. I'm replying from the US. I had my second trabeculectomy-ExPress shunt surgery in early April, and my first in April 2021. My pressures dropped from 13 and 14 to 4 and 5 following surgery. (Pressure in the first eye has since risen to 6). I'd already had severe vision loss in both eyes at the time of surgery, and only wish that fear hadn't kept me from getting the surgery sooner. At the time of the surgeries, I'd been on four different medications three times a day and had iStents in both eyes, yet the vision loss continued to progress. After the surgeries, I was able to feel hopeful again for the first time since I was diagnosed 9 years earlier. The vision in either eye feels like looking through a keyhole, but together, the eyes do a good job of compensating for one another's deficits, and my corrected vision is 20/20 and 20/25. I believe there is more reason to be hopeful on the horizon with the very promising research being done to regenerate retinal ganglion cells and prevent and/or restore vision lost to glaucoma.

[ChrisNorthEast]

Thank you