I am having a Preserflo op on my right eye in February.
Is it correct that you cannot get water in your operated eye after the op? If so, how long does that last and does anyone have a handy tip on how to wash your hair and not get water in your eyes?
Any other advice on the op and the recovery period would be very welcome.
Hello Machiado,
I have had two Preserflo micro shunts, the last one nearly 2 years ago.
So difficult to remember how long I kept my eyes dry in the shower.Although I am always careful still as there is a greater risk of infection after surgery, luckily I never had any.
The first day or two post op I did not wash my hair, then very cautiously bent my head back and kept the water on a lower flow, I practised this before the op. I also found a special hairwashing aid at the chemist, it was made for children and is just a stiff circle of plastic with a hole in the centre. I made this hole bigger and used a draw string to pull it to size. I think it just gave me more confidence.
After a few washes you will probably get very used to something like this.Do ask the surgeon what he advises . I was given a sheet of information.
If you click on muddledme and find a post 2 years ago ...."6 weeks post surgery insertion of Preserflo "...that may give you some idea of what to expect.
Do hope all goes well for you. I found that the more I could find out pre op the better. There is a helpful Glaucoma UK leaflet available on Preserflo shunts.
Best wishes
I didn’t have a shunt but I did have a trab and I was recommended to keep water out of my eye for the first two weeks. In reality it turned into a difficult journey and I’m still very careful three months later. As muddledme says tilt your head back, it takes a little getting used to being more careful than usual. I also drape a small towel over the shower door, I use that to dry any drips that may come down my face and rub my hair immediately after rinsing before I get out of the shower, that stops water running off your hair when you stand up straight. Then you can get out and dry yourself/your hair as usual.
Really helpful - thank you.
After a trab I used an eye shield taped firmly over my eye when washing my hair until I felt confident of doing without it. I also kept my eye shut.
Many thanks
Best thing to use is swim goggles as they provide a watertight seal around the eye area.. When you take them off afterwards just release the seals gradually so it doesn't create pressure.
Thanks for that good idea. Did you use the sort of goggles which fit right in around the eye sockets or the ones qwhich cover the whole eye area from eyebrows to below the eyes?
I would recommend the larger googles as the small ones can press on the orbit of the eye and cause too much pressure.
The large ones covering eyebrows and half-way down your face!
I had a microshunt nearly six weeks ago. I could only shower from the shoulders down for the first four weeks. I found that a wet soapy flannel on the head was fine for keeping my hair clean and washing everything but the eye which I avoided so that it stayed dry.
Thank you. Any other tips on how you found the operation and on the recovery period would be vetry welcome. Hope you are doing well.
I had sedation for the hour-long operation. This was longer than expected as the stitching was problematic, but it seems to have turned out okay. The insertion of the tube also seemed to have caused a small bleed into the anterior chamber which has still to fully drain away, but it has nearly gone. Vision seemed to be back to pre-op level around the two week mark, but a minor bleed then caused brief fogginess. Pressure has been 8 each measure since the op, around 17 before. (I have normal tension glaucoma). On steroid drop 6 times/day now. (It was every two waking hours after the op for four weeks plus an ointment at bedtime). Still not allowed strenuous activity or driving as it is "still too early" - not sure when these will be allowed. Apart from one rogue stitch which was taken out the other six remain in - I think they may be permanent? I still have to wear the plastic eye shield at night. I've never needed to take painkillers which is surprising considering what is done to the eye! Hope that is helpful? Good luck with your op. It seems that every eye is different so you will probably have a slightly different experience.
Update: The stitches came out at 6 weeks. The blood (hyphema) had also drained away by then. Now at 8 weeks and all looks good. Vision is 6/6. Pressure was 7 this time. I'm now allowed to resume strenuous activities like running and DIY (within reason). Still on steroids which are reducing by one drop per day every 2 weeks. (Now 4/day, then 3/day in two weeks, etc.). Still need to use eye shield at night until 3 months reached. Next appt in 5 weeks...
Thanks so much. That is really useful. Hope you continue to get better.
Hi. I just had to add to your other replies that I had the micro shunt 7 weeks ago at the Brighton eye hospital . It only took a bit less than half an hour and went very well I also had dissolving stiches but needed only one or two and I found these dissolved and came out after about 3 weeks . You really need not worry about this procedure as it is now a common operation. It does take a bit of dedication to use the eye drops after as It feels like almost every hour and it will restrict your social life for a while. My very best wishes to you and let us all know how it went and any questions for us.
That is very reassuring and helpful. Thank you.
I had cataract and Hydrus stent surgery about 7 weeks ago. For hair washing in the shower I recommend disposable see through face shields from Amazon. They are a kind of visor which stick on your face. I also stuck them down the side with micropore for extra security. I wore my eye shield from the hospital underneath. Worked well but a long wash did lead to a bit of condensation! There was also some limitation of vision so use with care! For showering without hair washing I acquired some disposable see through plastic shower caps from same supplier. I just pulled the cap down over the operated eye. Less faff than sticking on the eye shield and more effective.
Sometimes you have to see the funny side.......!
to be honest I have been a patient at MREH
For 45 years had a few operations they never liked me
Getting water in my eye .I use hylo drops several times a day
Many thanks
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.
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