Post needling vision

[PBX142]

Has anyone else who has had bleb needling found that after stopping the steroid eye drops - I've gradually tapered them off over four weeks and finally finished two days ago - that their vision has lost clarity in that eye? Things are definitely blurrier, which is worrying. I'm not sure whether that's glaucoma progression or simply post effects of the steroid drops. They are dexamethosone. Thanks in advance.

[Astilbe]

I haven't had bleb needling, but after a trabulectomy op my vision was blurry and misty for about 2 or 3 months. I was told that it was debris from the operation that some people got and that it would eventually clear. It did slowly clear and now is fine. I was thinking that maybe you could have some debris resulting from the needling.

[PBX142 in reply to Astilbe]

Thanks Astilbe - debris just about sums it up. I will have to wait till my Moorfields appt in mid-Jan. Patience is not my forte!

[AlfredV]

You may still be getting a bit of inflammation and/or dry eye following the stopping of the steroids. Either of these things can cause blurred vision.

I had an intense needling earlier in the year and most of the inflammation subsided after just a week on steroids and I then tapered off over the next week, but it took several weeks beyond that for my eye to feel like it had calmed back down.

[PBX142 in reply to AlfredV]

Thanks for your reply....I am lubricating my eyes every five minutes, but being a journalist on deadline in front of a computer ain't helping! Did you just have two weeks on steroids?

[Ritualhazard in reply to PBX142]

one thing to think. If you’re lubricating your eye so often you may be blocking up your oil glands that naturally lubricate your eye. Do you use a warm eye mask? I used to suffer terribly from dry gritty eyes, it was a game changer for me. I work in IT so know what your mean about monitors. Also try a blue light filter, that’s also helped with my eye tiredness

[PBX142 in reply to Ritualhazard]

Good advice, thank you! I don't use a warm eye mask because I dont like microwaves and dont own one - but I do see now that you can buy eye masks that warm up without using one. So I'll try those. I only use more viscous lubricating drops at night - the ones I use a lot are clear liquid so don't think they'll block my oil glands. I did ask my specialist about that. And I'll research the blue light filter. Many thanks!

[AlfredV in reply to PBX142]

Yes, although I've been on steroids for several weeks following a previous needling. This time the inflammation calmed much quicker which may be due to other general health improvements.

[AlfredV in reply to AlfredV]

Actually scrub that, I've mis-remembered. I checked my diary and it looks like I was on 6 drops a day post needling for one week, then I was tapered of over several weeks.

[Ritualhazard in reply to AlfredV]

did you have your needling back in theatre? I’ve just had my third lot, last time in theatre and my eye looks dreadful. Really red, almost black where the bleb is. Steroids have been upped from 6x a day to every two hours. Heading into my third month in them and feeling pretty low about the whole thing

[AlfredV in reply to Ritualhazard]

Yes it was on theatre and pretty intense, much more so than a previous needling. They can up the steroids significantly. After my one trab they had me on steroids hourly for at least a couple of weeks.

I'd imagine you are being monitored regularly so I think it best you raise your concerns and hopefully the experts can put you at ease.

[Ritualhazard in reply to AlfredV]

thanks. How are your pressures now? Did the needling stabilise the trab?

Meant to say, my consultant says me eye looks fine inside so I’m not concerned about that, more the ongoing procedures that are getting me down.

[AlfredV in reply to Ritualhazard]

My left eye has been needled twice. The first time was a disaster as the antimetabolite leaked out causing me to go blind. Fortunately I regained my vision after several weeks but it was a painful time with lots of swelling. Unfortunately that needling was largely unsuccessful. At the time the pressure was around 18, which was okay, but my consultant feared that over the years it could slowly rise.

My last needling was in January. I've only had the pressure taken twice since then, at 14-15. I hoped for lower but that is okay.

My other eye is now at 9 which is the lowest it has ever been. As I have improved other aspects of my health, I have seen improvements in my eye pressure.

I'm not sure the eyes are a window to the soul, but I think they are a window to your health.

Repeated treatments are a pain, I agree. But hopefully you'll get to a position where you can go for years without anymore intervention. It has taken 13 eye operations for me to get to where I am today.

[Ritualhazard]

hello. Not helpful to you but I’ve just had my third lot of needling. First two at the slit lamp in clinic and last Wednesday back in theatre. I’m desperately needing a good news, success story. My trab had been problematic since the first couple of weeks Is your pressure stable now? What’s the outlook?