Post Trab pressure rise

[stephanie1977]

Hi!I had a trabeculectomy in one eye June 2022. The recovery was hard, but pressure great at 10-11. Today is was 16. Very upset. Dr said it could be just today. I have glaucoma Specialist appointment in one month.I have NTG so pressure must be as low as possible. Could this mean trabeculectomy failure? Could it be just a spike? If it remains high what might be done to get it low again? Can needling be done at this point? Thanks for you thoughts!

[GirlWithTheBow]

My eye pressure has also gone up in my left eye too. But there are other times it’s within the target pressure during checkups. On the waiting list for needling. Right eye had needling three weeks after trabeculetomy surgery as doctor was worried it would go same direction as my left eye. The eye pressure lowered immediately after needling.

[stephanie1977 in reply to GirlWithTheBow]

Hi GirlWithTheBow, Thanks for your answer! I have a feeling my doctor will end up suggesting needling too

[PBX142]

Hi Stephanie, my situation is similar. Trab in left eye over 3 yrs ago and held steady at around 10-11 until it started to creep up last summer. Last Oct and Nov it went up to 15 and 17 so I had needling and it went down straight after to 7, great. Then started to creep back up to 11/12 by end Nov. And this Jan measured 15, but 12 after the consultant massaged upper lid ie massaged bleb to help counteract scarring. She started me back on Tiopex just in morning - I already have that in my right eye daily, more as a preventative - and I also massage the lid as she showed me 3 or 4 times daily. At beg of this April it measured 13 and yesterday at appt was 11-12, and went down a few points as soon as she massaged for about 20 secs. She was planning a likely second needling but says she wouldn't do it at these pressures. So now I'm trying to relax!! Hope this helps.

[stephanie1977 in reply to PBX142]

Hey PBX142, Thank you for your answer. Sound like a bit of rollercoasting with the pressures I can empathize. Since your trabeculectomy how often do you check your pressure? And then in the past year has it been more frequent?

[PBX142 in reply to stephanie1977]

I have my pressure checked at my clinic appointments which are a few months apart. Since the near-collapse of the NHS, my appts keep getting put back - and I keep fighting to get them reinstated to their original time. The frequency though depends on what's going on with your eyes - everyone is different. If they are keeping a v watchful eye on you, then it would be a month as opposed to three months. If they think your eye situation is stable, showing no progression, then it's usually six months. As far as checking pressure is concerned, I have considered going to a local optician/opometrist and paying a small amount for regular pressure checks, but I think that would make me worry more and I'd get even more obsessed about my pressures than I already am!!!! And stress, as we know, is not good for our eyes...!

[stephanie1977 in reply to PBX142]

Hi PBX142,

It's true Glaucoma monitoring is such an individual thing and especially the pressure which in my case is a bit of a moving target. I too considered more frequent. pressure checks, but like you said the possibility of becoming obsessive is real! Thanks for writing in!

[balacakkhu]

Hello , the pressure may be varied but there are other factors (e.g visual field and clinical findings of the eye ) to be consider for further treatment . Your consultant will decide what is the best option for you depending all the factors. with best wishes.

[PBX142]

PS Stephanie - my ophtho is always reminding me that it's not just about the pressures, as Balacakkhu above states...I guess we all tend to overanalyse and maybe read too much...I need to lay off Dr Google!

[stephanie1977]

Hi again,I am so upset. Checked eye pressure yesterday and the trabeculectomy eye has risen to 21! I am headed for needling in that eye. Those of you that have had needling how successful was it for lowering and keeping down the eye pressure ? I feel so disappointed and pessimistic about a failed trabeculectomy 😢