Hi Iam having a presserflo shunt fitted on 6th Sept under a general.Iam very anxious and frightened about having this op and have read about people needing needling etc.,
Can anyone help me to get through this by sending me "good news" stories only.
Anyone had a presserflo?
Please no horror stories scared enough!!
Thank you in advance
Hello callie77,
I have had two Preserflo shunts. The first in December 2020 and the second March 2021. Since then no real problems.Now no eye drops except lubricants for dry eyes.
Everyone was very kind during both ops and I had both with local anaesthetic. Mildly uncomfortable only when the pain killing gel went in.
There are lots of eyedrops for the first few weeks ,then they gradually tail off. Some rules about not bending your head below your heart , lifting heavy weights etc for about 6 weeks post op. It is worth getting prepared before hand so you have some easy meals from the deep freeze and no heavy pots to lift from any low cuboards . MAKE SURE YOU ARE GIVEN ENOUGH EYE DROPS from the hospital before you leave as your pharmacy may need a few days to get things in.
I found it helpful to get as much information as I could before the op and I had a "Buddie" who gave me all sorts of tips. Glaucoma UK can tell you about that scheme.
Very best wishes.
Hi Callie You will be anxious and frightened it's only natural I think anyone would be , I've had numerous procedures including needling and I found that although it's probably one of the most delicate parts of your body the nurses doctors surgeons make the whole thing less daunting as they can , I found if you try to relax ( I know that's easy to say ) as much as you can and think about good things in your head it helps , hope all goes well and good luck ..
Thank you I do try to think of good things but then the panic takes over!!I will keep trying x
Totally understand that , I was the same I was terrified and only had one procedure done under general the rest were under local , all I can say is they will put you at ease as much as they can until you are put out , worst part is waking up from a deep sleep under general.
thank you for your understanding it really helps x
Your welcome I do know exactly what you are going through and like everyone on here we all wish you good luck and a speedy recovery , wish this page had been around when I had my ops done some brilliant advice on here x
yes i don't know what I would do without this site x
Hello Callie
I had a Preserflo procedure three weeks ago on my right eye under local anaesthetic in the Bristol Eye Hospital. I was also very anxious due to not knowing what to expect.
However, the procedure went well and although it’s still early days the right eye pressure has reduced from 36 to 10 currently.
I would agree the initial injection to numb the eye was mildly uncomfortable but you shouldn’t feel any pain throughout the procedure.
Remember to be careful not to get the eye wet for the first two weeks (maybe get some dry shampoo instead of washing your hair) and make a time chart for the eye drops six/four times a day etc. Ensure you stock up with large cotton wool pads for bathing the eye twice a day for the first two weeks.
I have been advised by my consultant not to wear contact lenses going forward following the procedure which was a surprise & disappointment but you can’t put a price on your eyes.
I would be happy to be a remote buddie if you need one!
With best wishes
Debbie x
Thank you so much Debbie for your reply and tips. Will go out and buy some dry shampoo and cotton wool pads.That is such a good outcome from 36 to 10 I hope it all goes well for you.
I'm not so brave to get it done under a local so i'm having a general. I'm still petrified!!😪
Thanks for offering to be my remote buddy I will probably take you up on that!
Take care x
Try not to be petrified Callie, you will be asleep so you won’t have to stay still for 45 minutes which is a good thing!
You may also want to buy some tape from Superdrug/Boots to hold the plastic cover shield in place overnight (the hospitals aren’t keen on giving it to patients to take home!
Be kind to yourself for a couple of weeks after the procedure. Hopefully you will have someone who can drive you back and forth to your appointments x
Hi Callie, I had a Preserflo Microshunt in March under a local, so 5 months on eye pressure is the best it’s been (10) ever since I was diagnosed in 2016.
Very important not to get eye wet, I tipped my head back in the shower.
A lot of various eye drops at different times of the day, I have an Apple Watch therefore have my watch alarm set to let me know when it’s “eye drop time”.
Still I have dry eyes , particularly during the night but thats easy, just lubricants that work well.
The first 3 months I was have checkups with my ophthalmologist weekly/ fortnightly which was very reassuring .
Unfortunately I did have needling also to break down the scar tissue….
All the best , from me in New Zealand
Hello Callie. I have a Preserflo in both eyes, inserted last December and four weeks ago.
There's a lot of good information in the posts above which I won't repeat.
I showered as normal from the shoulders down and used a soapy flannel on the head while shielding the eye with the other hand to keep it dry. You can practise this now to see if it works for you. And try doing things with one eye closed now too so you can gain confidence for the day of the operation.
There will be an eye shield to wear at night for a while.
The only post-operative procedure that I've needed was the removal of the stitches, which was easily done in the clinic with numbing eye drops.
The quality of my vision was unaffected by the operations once the eyes had stabilized. I just needed minor changes to my glasses prescription.
I think the worst part was probably self-induced anxiety as it's so easy to worry at home alone. Trust the professionals, but do ask them about anything that is making you anxious.
Hi all, just to ask after putting in the preserflo, would it affect the way we move our eye ball? Or it will still works like original eye and we felt nothing in our eyes?
Hi,
I haven’t found the Preserflo affects the eye ball. I had my right eye procedure three weeks ago so the stitches are still in place (some dissolvable and some not apparently). Occasionally the eye feels a little achy but this could be due to some of the stitches dissolving.
Hi Callie, I’ve had both eyes Preserflo-ed. Right one under general and left one local. As you are having a general, you will be absolutely fine. You will not feel a thing. Please try not to worry ok.
Flower girl xx
thank you very much for your kind words flowergirl.It helps to know i'm not alone x
I’m so glad you’ve had lots of supportive messages caillie77 with the impending preserflo op. Like you i was very anxious before it was done at end of May. It was done under local anaesthetic and lasted an hour. Everyone was lovely in theatre snd a gorgeous nurse held my hand throughout the procedure which didn’t hurt at all. My son looked after me and on our way home stopped off at Boots to buy tape. I’d already bought eye pads from Boots. It brought my eye pressure right down too. It had been high. All the best to you. ❤️☘️
thank you Autumnlass so glad it went well for you.It gives me hope to hear positive stories.
Hope your'e still doing well x
Yes really well now thank you! x
Hi Callie I have just been told I will need to have the same operation and I am anxious too but it’s my only option as my sight is deteriorating in my left eye. I am trying to keep positive and reading these messages as a really helpful so thank you
I haven’t got a date yet but please keep in touch and let me know how it goes..
Sending you much love
Hi Callie77, just want to reassure you,I had cataract operation and a preserflo stent put in my left eye two days ago.i was very very anxious about the operation and I'm also claustraphobic so I opted to have a general anesthetic,it was the best choice for me.your completely knocked out,don't feel a thing.its very early days for me but they checked my eyes over the next day, and my pressures were down from 27 to 7 so the stents working.they want the number higher to get my vision back but I have a long way to go yet.good luck with your op and afterwards you LL realise that the operations not too bad,it's what we make up in our minds and make ourselves more anxious then we need to be,
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