Trabulectomy Failure

[Mimi987]

I had a trabulectomy done in May 2023 because of very high pressure of 60 in my left eye.

This worked well until late October 2023 when I had pain in the eye and redness. My surgeon pushed a loose stitch back into the eye but since then the pressure has reduced to 3/4. My surgeon recommends another operation to sort the bleb etc. out! I would be interested in knowing if any others have had this experience and what happened! I am not confident it will be a success...

[Cornwalleyes]

I haven’t had that experience, but I do remember my consultant saying that sometimes the bleb needs adjusting to get the pressure just right. I have normal pressure glaucoma so mine went from 16/18 to 8/9 which isn’t a huge adjustment, but if yours had to be decreased significantly then it’s maybe harder for them to judge.

[Littletreasures]

This happened to me following my trab last year. My pressure dropped to 4 and has remained at 4. The doctor has suggested stitches but I’ve been putting it off hoping that the pressure might come back up on its own accord but it hasn’t done so far after 7 months. I just can’t see the value in messing with the eye anymore as it just seems to lead to further complications.

[Mimi987 in reply to Littletreasures]

Thanks Littletreasures I like your username! My pressure is at 3 in the affected eye I agree they seem to be 'op' happy! My other eye is good but the bad eye interferes with a distorted image!

[pjhl]

Following my trab last September my pressure dropped from 16 to 4 . I asked about remedial procedures but my consultant described them as " hazardous " . Not ideal as my focussing has deteriorated but I get by so unless that changes I won't berequesting another procedure .

[Mimi987 in reply to pjhl]

Thanks I wonder if there is a simple way you can do your own eye pressure test! Do you get any discomfort in the affected eye? I do!

[pjhl in reply to Mimi987]

Thanks Mimi . I don't know of any way to measure your own eye pressure and no I don't get any discomfort in the affected eye . - sorry to hear that you do .

[Paros]

I've had one successful trab and another that appears to have closed up despite needling to attempt to open it. I'm now bk on max drops for that eye, with already having so many surgeries the ophthalmologist is reluctant to do more. He'll review in 3mths. Unfortunately these are tricky procedures..... 😞 I hope you get it sorted, good luck.

[whitedog]

Hi

My pressures went down to zero after my trab.

Had some gel injected in the consulting room and bleb needling later but ultimately my underlying uveitis disease caused it to heal up so I had a stent put in instead.

I still have two lots of drops even with the stent but it's kept everything stable.

[GirlWithTheBow]

i’ve just had a checkup and my eye pressure has gone up despite having a trabeculectomy last year. Been given two options if going back on eye drops or surgery to needle the bleb. Going to see if eye drops will work

[Eahldt]

It seems to be a very difficult balancing act. I had a trabeculectomy in my right eye in 2014 after I’d already lost some sight. Earlier intervention may have saved my sight. In 2021 a trabeculectomy was recommended for my left eye although I wasn’t aware of loss of sight. Sounded like early intervention on that occasion. Low pressure after the initial operation resulted in a return to theatre for stitching. That precipitated a very dense cataract so 3 operations within 5 weeks. I currently don’t put drops in my left eye and sight seems stable. I had a cataract removed from my right eye in 2018 when it was in the early stages. Early intervention to help control pressure. I put drops in that eye and my sight seems stable. I guess there are a lot of factors at play - different consultants’ views, availability of appointments/ treatment , current thinking / research / treatment and probably luck. It seems very complex.

[Mimi987 in reply to Eahldt]

I am just coming up for a second op on my right eye as the bleb is overleaking and wondering about post-operative care as the surgeon says I probably need two ops! My left eye is working well the right eye now interferes with it so to speak - a ghost image! I am concerned about post-operative care if I have it done away from home. Thanks for your reply