Preserflo Microshunt

[lekam314]

Could the people who have had the Preserflo operation share their experience, please.

[Toby_from_London]

Hi lekam,

I have spoken many times about my positive experience, having had a Preserflo shunt inserted earlier this year.

My posts may offer some useful information if you would care to search for them🙂

[Astilbe in reply to Toby_from_London]

I had a presserflo shunt about 2 1/2 years ago. I was told after 9 months that it hadn't worked. That it worked for some people but mine had not.

My eye pressures remained elevated and I was back on 2 kinds of eyedrops.

I was told eventually that the tube had blocked up due to scar tissue. I had a procedure in clinic (injecting MCT into my eye) in an effort to unblock it. That didn't work.

I then had a cataract operation on the same eye. While I was in theatre the surgeon performed more aggressive unblocking of the tube.

That, combined with the pressure lowering of the cataract operation, has fortunately seemed to work. My pressure in that eye is now 10.

So, after over 2 years the only eyedrop I am on for that eye is Ikervis for severe irritation in that eye. So it has now been deemed a success.

The Presserflo shunt is a less servious operation than a trabulectomy (which I have had done in my other eye). So I think that it is worth trying as it does work straight away for some people.

[Toby_from_London in reply to Astilbe]

Thank you, Astilbe.

I wasn’t really given a choice and it was never explained as to why I had the MIGS rather than a trab, but I’m glad things worked out for you in the end.

So did your pressure drop after the op but then gradually increase over time?

[Astilbe in reply to Toby_from_London]

Sorry, just realised that it was Toby, not lekam that I should have been replying to. Plus, Toby you have said that you have had the op!

Anyway, thanks for your reply.

Time to get some sleep methinks!!

[lekam314 in reply to Toby_from_London]

Thank you, Toby

[Astilbe]

Thanks lekam, I thought for ages that I would have to have another surgery to lower my pressure in that eye. The Presserflo shunt only lowered it by 3 (down from 22 to 19), but then it went back up to 22 fairly quickly, matter of weeks, even using 2 different eyedrops. My target pressure was 15.

I had to have a trab in my other eye because the pressure needed to be lowered quickly as it was starting to affect my field vision. The trab worked straight away and pressure has been stable at 5 or 6 for about 6 months now.

Have you had your op for Presserflo?

[lekam314 in reply to Astilbe]

Thank you, Astilbe. No, I haven't, but I am going to have it in January, if I don't change my mind.

[Flowergirl24]

Hi I've had Preserflo shunts in both eyes this year. Pressures are 9 and 9. They have fluctuated up to 10 or 11 but seem to come back down. So far, so good from the Uveitis Team and the Glaucoma Team whom I saw both last week for clearance to have the laser op on my left eye as it's quite 'misty'.

[lekam314 in reply to Flowergirl24]

Thank you, Flowergirl, to have 9 or even 10 is what I need in my left eye. At the moment it is 14, but even that pressure is too high for my normal tension glaucoma.

[Jbar24 in reply to Flowergirl24]

How do you mean? How would lasers fix that? Mine is very blurry/ misty

[Max22]

Hi Lekam314, I just had my Preserflo operation yesterday at Moorfields private. Had follow up today. Originally the glaucoma team had wanted to insert an aqueous shunt but I saw another consultant who recommended Preserflo. Previous eye pressure was fluctuating mid 30s to 43 since early this year. The post-op next day pressure is now 2mm hg (very low). I’m told it will slowly rise. My next follow up. appointment is next week. Vision very very hazy worse than before the operation. Consultant has told me that this will improve over the next few weeks.

[lekam314 in reply to Max22]

Thank you, Max22, and good luck with your recovery! I am also having my Preserflo at Moorfields private and hope it will work for me.

[Max22 in reply to lekam314]

lekam314, I hope it goes well for you. My eye is a little sore at the moment been less 24 hours . If you are at Moorfields private then you will have a next day follow up and then another one a week later. I will keep you updated with my progress and hopefully it will help others in this group.

[Toby_from_London in reply to Max22]

Hi Max,

Just to say that IOP normally drops quite rapidly immediately after this operation; mine was 44 down to 3!

It should gradually increase and your eyesight become less blurry over time.

[Max22 in reply to Toby_from_London]

Thanks Toby, really did not want this operation. Will keep the people on this very helpful community updated on my progress.

[Jbar24 in reply to Max22]

When did your eye become less hazy?

[GlaucomaGirl101]

I had Preserflo surgery in August. My pressure was 16-19 and at times into low 20's even with three different meds in drops. (I could not tolerate the fourth med.) I have Normal Tension Glaucoma had lost substantial central vision fairly quickly. Immediately after surgery, the pressure went down to 4, but with Atropine drops for one month it went up to 9 and now it fluctuates between 9-11. I am almost finished being weaned off prednisolone drops to avoid scarring. The surgeon is very pleased. My recent 10-2 visual field (for central vision) was stable. I am very happy with this result as I know my vision loss would have continued without the surgery.

[lekam314 in reply to GlaucomaGirl101]

Thank you, GlaucomaGirl. Not many people have normal tension glaucoma, so your experience is very valuable.

[Amjan]

hi lekam314, I had presserflo in my left eye on 55th September this year, my pre op pressure was 29, the day after iop went down to 2, week after it was 3 and 4 weeks later it was 5. I was on steroid drops every two hours to stastart with am still on twice a day for two weeks then reduce to once a week for two weeks then to stop. My eye is feeling OK, occasionaloccasionally get blurry for few seconds, feels as if I need to refocus. My consultant said it is recovering well. My next appointment is in January.

[lekam314 in reply to Amjan]

Thanks, Amjan, and good luck with your further recovery.

[Max22 in reply to Amjan]

Hi Amjan

How long did it take for your vision to improve? It has been 11 days since my Preserflo surgery and my left eye is like thick heavy fog.

[Amjan in reply to Max22]

hi Max, my vision is not any different to what it was pre op, just that grityness lasted for couple of weeks, only had occasional blurry eye lasting few seconds. My pressure in the eye has lowered significantly, it was 5 at my last appointment.

[Max22 in reply to Amjan]

Thanks Amjan, hope your pressure gets back to normal level. My last pressure reading was on Friday (4 days ago) and I was told it was 4. I’m trying not to stress and hoping the cloudy/foggy vision will start to clear soon.

[KayGeeBee]

Hi lekam314, I had Preserflo MicroShunt for normal tension glaucoma two weeks ago. After one week the pressure was 8 (usually 13-18 before the op, was 17 on the day). Was on three meds before the op.

Next appt is in two weeks when I think the stitches will come out.

On steroid every two hours (while awake) and antibiotics four times a day. An ointment at bedtime and plastic shield at night. Shower from shoulders down. Careful wet flannel on the head.

My vision improved steadily each day and after about twelve days was mostly back to pre-op quality, but I do have a little blood in the bottom of the cornea which floats in front of the pupil when I look down and things then go foggy. Was told this should go on its own.

I went for a gentle 45 minute stroll today and that caused temporary fogginess for some reason. It cleared in about 30 minutes once I got home. Not sure what that was all about? I've been regularly taking photos of my eye and couldn't see any change in external appearance. (I can see the blood move in front of the pupil when I look down - it shows well in photos).

Anyway, so far so good I think, but I'm only two weeks into the journey. Good luck when you go ahead.

[lekam314 in reply to KayGeeBee]

Thanks KayGeeBee. I hope your recovery will go well.

[Bec8891]

Hello, sorry to jump on the post. I've had a microshunt put in each eye only 4 weeks apart. My pressures were 46 in both eyes. The right eye had not fully recovered before I had my left eye done. Still get hazy vision after 6 weeks in my first eye. Can anybody tell me how long it took for their vision to come back fully please? My consultant is very good but not very chatty or forthcoming with information. So not sure on what to expect. I'm so shocked at how some have said they didn't need pain relief, I've found it very painful. My first eye stitches didn't start dissolving until the 4-5 week mark and until this point it was so painful. Not ideal with two little kids at home. my left eye is still watering constantly after 2 weeks and cannot open the eye for more than a few seconds at a time as it feels heavy and painful. is this normal? I wasn't told to avoid any bending or any info like that How long do people have off work? I'm desperate to go back but I work on computers 7/8 hours a day. Pressures have come down to 5 and 6 post op. Can you wear contact lenses after all is healed? Thank you. Xx.