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 .

[whitedog]

Hi

We're all different so I can only relate my own experience.

I'd already lost vision which was discovered after a cataract op. Uveitis complicated everything my consultant tried but diode laser healed over & my trab failed so I had an Ahmed valve shunt put in.

That was successful but I still need 2 lots of drops as well. Pressures now stable though I have lost a lot of vision. Mostly, in my case, due to the uveitis.

Glaucoma only affects one eye for me and is secondary so, as I say, everyone's case is different. I'd always follow my consultant's guidance tbh. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

[Alfiwestie in reply to whitedog]

thanks , much appreciated .Wondering when you had the shunt fitted ?

Have you needed any bleb needling since ? TIA 😘

[whitedog in reply to Alfiwestie]

The shunt was put in about 12 years ago. No recovery complications - the valve also prevents pressures slipping to zero which happened after my trab.

The consultant always says it's in a great position. Not sure why it doesn't keep the pressures down on its own but I'm always told I'm a complex case so I just go along with whatever's recommended I need! 😀

[Alfiwestie]

sounds brilliant …very pleased for you …thanks for your reply xx