How long to wait for trabeculectomy?

[Iona57]

I'm wondering how long people have waited for a trabeculectomy operation, once they have been told they need one, either through NHS or going private? I'm asking because when I saw my consultant ( privately) in Feb he said that the visual fields test showed there was some deterioration ( normal tension glaucoma) but we needed to wait and see what the tests showed at my next appt at end of April. A trabeculectomy will be next step if deterioration is definite, as I already have vision loss near the centre. He didn't want to discuss things further at that appointment, as he said there's no point till we know more.

However, I have plans for the summer including a holiday with a friend, and having a new bathroom fitted! If I need the op, but would have to wait a while for it anyway, I can get on with my plans. However, if it would be treated like a priority and done quite soon after April, then I can't make any plans now as I'd have to cancel.

Sorry to ramble. It's scary enough thinking about maybe having a trabeculectomy but I feel bad that I'm having to inconvenience other people about plans because I won't know what's happening till my appointment at end of April.

[SIMONE75]

I was told in late December just before Christmas and got it 10 January here in uk. It was urgent as I had pressures of 65 so had to take diamox till the surgery which made me quite ill. I had a quick recovery though it needed being in theatre as it started healing over - I’m still on drops but with a good pressure for me of 15 The best of luck.

[Iona57 in reply to SIMONE75]

Hi Simone, thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad that you had treatment pretty quickly and that your pressures are so much lower. I hope it continues!

[PBX142]

There is no easy answer except my advice, given the state of the NHS and the well-publicised delays, is to accept the date they give you and reschedule your life around that. If your friend is a good friend, he or she will surely understand. I had a trab three years ago and it wasn't the best time in my life but I wasn't going to push it back for anything or anybody. If it's going to help save more vision, go for it is what I'd say. PS I have NTG too.

[Iona57 in reply to PBX142]

Thank you! That's good sense.

[Anonoms]

Husband was told 4 years ago that consultant thought he should have surgery on second eye. Feel like they are just watching it get worse. When he really needed surgery (twice) he was scheduled as a P1 (surgery within 4 weeks) and actually it was days because he agreed to take a cancellation both times. So in summary, if it is urgent it can be done very quickly ..if it is just the next step in a slow moving decline then years is possible. Depends on your holiday too. If you were working you could expect to be back at work within two weeks. Bear in mind you won't get a cancellation payout unless you specified glaucoma on your trvel insurance.

[GirlWithTheBow]

when I had mine in 2022 and 2023 I didn’t had to wait long. Think it was about 3 months at my local hospital