Trabeculectomy failed … 5 bleb needlings 3 in last 6 weeks . Ophthalmic surgeon recommends aqueous flow shunt very soon.

[Alfiwestie]

i have aggressive open angle glaucoma in both eyes .An emergency trab was performed March 23

after sudden vision loss and very high IOP . July 23 Jan 24 bleb needlings .Feb24 steroid induced cataract occluded the vision IOP 26 .March 24 cataract removed and further bleb needling and mitomycin C . 2 weeks later IOP raised further bleb needling and avastin .2 weeks later this was repeated . Now 2 weeks on late June … more scar tissue .Surgeon will not remove any more scar tissue as it is too painful and distressing for me .

He suggests aqueous shunt surgery very soon … pressure is now 38 and I must make a quick decision . My body will probably heal shunt surgery in same way as it did trap door of trab .I have had very large amounts of dexamethasone for more than a year . I will go blind without the op .

My right eye also has a trab .( May 23 …only 1 needling Jan24 IOP 12 ) .It has beginnings of cataract …use x2 dex per day ) .It has very good vision .

Is it worth going thru the pain and discomfort of shunt surgery and follow up …perhaps with a poor outcome .I am depressed as I am not able to travel far away from my eye clinic and feel I am spoiling my husband’s retirement .