hi. Has anyone had a cataract operation to reduce eye pressure and did it work? I have not been able to use any eye drops for over a year as developed allergy to all. Laser only reduced pressure slightly. Was told optic nerve had deteriorated slightly over 5 years. As I am 75 I thought it would be ok with monitoring. Just in case, had a referral to surgeon. Totally shell shocked when he said nerve was too thin, pressures too high. In his opinion, if untreated it only had a few months! Even though my vision is not impaired by a cataract he said it had grown large and thick (both eyes) and doing a cataract op would increase space and reduce pressure, also leaving option of trap in the future. If I had time I would get a second opinion but it was so urgent first op is in 2 weeks so I haven’t time. While I wait I have tablets to take. Sorry for the long essay but mildly freaking out here!
cataract op for glaucoma : hi. Has anyone had a... - Glaucoma UK
cataract op for glaucoma
If someone has cataracts (natural thickening of the lens) and they have narrow drainage angles, it can make them even narrower and cause the eye pressure to rise. The lens replacement is flat. This will cause the iris to fall back and open the drainage angle more, reducing the eye pressure.
You do not say the type of glaucoma you have but it sounds as though it is Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma.
If the tablet you are taking while waiting is called Acetazolamide (Diamox), make sure you stay well hydrated as they are a diuretic, basically a water tablet. It helps to reduce your eye pressure by reducing the production of the Aqueous Humor, which is a clear fluid that flows into the eye and then out of the drainage system around the outside of the iris.
Imagine a blocked plughole in the sink. If the water from the tap is too fast, the water will build up around the drain, and take longer to drain away. but if you let the tap run slowly/trickle the water will drain away quicker.
There are many forum members who have undergone cataract surgery. I am sure you will get a reply soon.
thank you for replying. No one has ever actually said what type of glaucoma it is, I just presumed it was as you said as that is the most common. Yes, the tablet is diamox. I was warned the side effects are too much for some people but, after the prognosis, I intend to stay with it no matter what. I was asking the question because I had never seen anyone mention cataract surgery on here, I feel I have no options but just trying to process it.
hi, what were your pressures without any form of treatment?
24 in each eye
Hi, yes the side effects can be worse for some than others, I struggled with them at first but then my body seemed to learn how to function on them even with all the side effects, so yes you are doing the right thing, stick with them, I too have closed Angle (which is a lot less common) and it really is essential you stick with them. All the best to you, I am sure the operation will help. Oh and 24 in each eye, could be worse, put it this way, I was left eye 49 and it only dropped to 31 on the tablets.
so far no side effects but maybe not taken them long enough yet! I have never worried about pressure of 24 but this time it was accompanied by ‘your optic nerve is very thin, with these pressures it probably only has months’! That was what has un nerved me a bit.
Yes that's understandable, theres often a lot more things to take into consideration than just the pressure, I know it can all be very scary. I'm happy for you, that you haven't had any side effects not everyone does, also mine were instant,.so that's a good sign. All the best with your operation 🙏
thank you
Hi islandhome...I have narrow angles but no glaucoma yet. I had a bilateral iridotomy a year ago and my angles are open. However my pressures still hover between 20-30 in both eyes. I am on Tiopex drops morning and Monopost evening. Many other drops have caused an allergic reaction but I seem ok on these. My consultant told me 2 weeks ago that he us happy with my eyes at present but i have the beginnings of cataracts and at some point they will operate and that will bring my pressures down too. I hope that helps. Take care.
thank you. Good to know others recommend cataract surgery. I used drops for over 10 years then they changed them and did laser treatment. After that every single drop takes just one dose to flare up the red eyed monster! Very unfortunate because drops really are the easy stress free option!
Hello!Yes, I had both eyes done last year - right eye first, I had the lens replacement (cataract surgery) and a trabeculectomy - combined surgery - that was end of March 22 and then in August I had just the lens replacement (cataract surgery) in my left eye. I did not have cataracts - this was purely for glaucoma.
Both ops went well, recovery was good and I was back to work full time after a few weeks. (I've just turned 40 years old) I'm down from 3 sets of drops in each eye to just one in the left so far pressures are stable.
I also had my surgeries at short notice - about 1 weeks notice both times - and had the same tablets to reduce my ridiculously high pressures (40) to a safe level for the operations.
If you have any questions for me feel free to ask!
thank you for replying. I had not heard of cataract surgery for glaucoma and ‘googling’ seems to say it was not a worthwhile option so it is good to know it helps. I am not having trabs and probably still won’t be able to take drops so am expecting something else to follow. My biggest concern is eyesight. I am short sighted and can read, sew etc without glasses. I am perfectly happy with my eyesight and fear it will change. How did it affect you?
Yes my eyesight has changed drastically- I was very short sighted before, -6.50 both eyes, wore contact lenses all the time but could see very close up for doing things like applying eye make up! Now I'm -1.00 in both eyes for long distance, intermediate vision is perfect but i need reading glasses for close up, about a +1.50. I've managed but it's been a learning curve, more so due to my work, my reading glasses are constantly on then off! I'm yet to try multifocal glasses, will bite the bullet this year though.I bought reading glasses for £5 in asda while recovering from my 2nd surgery and haven't needed to replace them.
That being said, the change in prescription is but a minor side effect when it comes to saving my vision - I'd rather adapt to reading glasses than not be able to read at all....
NHS surgeries will only place mono focal lenses but if you go private they can fit multifocal lenses however I couldn't afford private treatment.
In time cataracts will most likely develop on your natural lens so getting the surgery now means you won't have to go on a cataract waiting list - I know someone who had to stop running his taxi due to his cataracts and the waiting lists so that's something else to think about?
My mum (70) has had trabs in both eyes and is developing cataracts now but isn't yet considered for cataract surgery - they won't do her until they're worse, so her vision, already damaged by glaucoma is being worsened by developing cataracts.
I had been on eye drops for several years and they would only work for several months then I'd be changed on to another type. I don't know what my pressures would be in my left eye without the one drop I'm still on but I think my consultant is keeping me on it as a preventative measure?
My next check up is due next month, hopefully i don't need a trab in the left eye too as apparently I'm quite young for them but I'll go along with whatever is recommended as my vision is just too important.
as I am 74 I think I am lucky to be just at this stage. He wants to do carats first because getting trabs right is not easy so then they are reluctant to do cataracts later as it disturbs the trabs so I am ok with that. Unfortunately I don’t have time to pursue private options but I have the option of a lense to stay short sighted rather than a total change. I don’t think vision will be the same but I am thinking it may be the best option. Of course I am going to put up with anything I have to do to save my sight. I will update when it is done! Thank you.
Fab 😁 let us know how you get on! Best wishes xx
Hi, yes I have had clear lens replacements in both eyes 18 months ago - didn’t have cataracts, but I have primary open angle glaucoma. I have been using various drops for around 10 years, but my pressures were creeping up and were in the low 20’s. I had laser treatment which was followed shortly after by cataract surgery. My pressures have since dropped to around 12-13, which is great, but I’m still having to use drops 4x a day in both eyes. My consultant is still concerned about the reducing visual field in my right eye and is talking to me about the probable need for trab surgery. I had a gap of around 6 months between cataract ops, and the biggest inconvenience was the cost of having to change my glasses prescription twice. I wish you luck and hope that you get a satisfactory outcome from your treatment.
thank you. I am concerned people still need drops as it is just not an option. Maybe I will have to take the long term risks of the tablets. Consultants have such differing opinions it is hard to know what is best. I am hoping to opt for lenses similar to my current prescription so glasses would not a big expense!
Hi Islandhome I too had cataracts done in both eyes to reduce my pressures. I was initially very anxious however it’s a blessing in disguise as I have many friends on a very long waiting list to get their cataracts done. Pressures initially were 10 and 11 after op, a year later they are 13/14 hopefully they are stable now however still on drops. Distant vision is brilliant, I do need reading glasses though. I am so grateful that I was able to have the cataracts done in both eyes, I am 70 years old and was diagnosed with glaucoma at 48. Please do keep asking questions we are all here to help and support x
Hi I am waiting for cataract surgery, unlike you I do used 3 different kind of drops for my glaucoma, was also told by my local opticians that having the cataract remove would also bring down my pressures
Whatever you decide, be aware not to perform the cataract op on the same day on both eyes. My sister did not listen to me, and had them the same day, and she got Glaucoma after 1 month of the operation. Everyone I knew in an LTC where I used to work had their cataract ops in different months for each eye, so I did not understand why the surgeon performed it the same day, giving her, I guess, strong anesthesia, that even left her loosing her smell up to now, after 5 years, and getting glaucoma too.
no option to do that. I did ask as it is so urgent but was told it is never done.
I have open angle glaucoma and had cataract surgery on both eyes with micro stents inserted for reducing the pressures in both eyes. I had it done one eye at a time before the holidays and it lowered pressures in both eyes, I go back in April for a followup. My first eye showed big improvement in clarity right away after the surgery and the other eye took almost 3 weeks but my eyesight is greatly improved after the surgeries.
Good morning from Thailand..... Sending good wishes!... terrific support and help from fabulous people here!... Hope all works out and you begin to enjoy life again....
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