Blurred vision after trabeculectomy

[RobMitchell]

Hi,

I am 52 and have glaucoma and cataracts in both eyes. 8 week ago I had a trabeculectomy, which went ok and although pressures went very low post op they are now at 9, which is great. However my vision in the operated eye (which was actually pretty good apart from increasing peripheral loss) is very blurred and is only perhaps fractionally better than immediately after the surgery. Most of the literature seems to suggest that the vision is at its optimum again after 6 weeks post op, which is a bit concerning. I wondered if anyone else had taken a longer period of time for the blurred vision to clear?

Thanks

Rob

[Iona57]

Hi Rob, I'm three weeks post trab and already very fed up with the blurred vision which is in my 'good' eye. I've done a lot of goggling. A wide range of timescales is given. My own post- op leaflet says ' about two weeks' but other info says up to 3 months or longer. In my case I think the blurring is partly to do with the eye drops- I'm still on steroid and dilating drops. The other is that my focus is fluctuating. I started off being long sighted after the op. I am now short sighted and can read without glasses but long distanfe vision is blurred. I'm wearing an old pair of glasses which helps. I've read that you should wait 3 months before getting new glasses as the eye can still be settling.

[RobMitchell in reply to Iona57]

Thanks Iona. Best of luck with your recovery. I do feel so much better since they took the stitches out a couple of weeks ago and I think I’ll have to be patience as things right themselves. Thanks again. I really appreciate your reply.

[Eahldt]

My vision took about 3 months to settle down after a trabeculectomy and still isn’t as good as it was previously. I accept, however, that the operation was a precautionary measure to save sight in that eye as vision in my other eye is poor. Soon aft er the trabeculectomy I developed a cataract, a common side effect of eye surgery, so it may be worth getting that checked out.

[RobMitchell in reply to Eahldt]

Thanks Eahldt. 3 months? OK. I’ve still some time to go then. I suspect I need some more patience. They told me that I need a trab for both eyes and that I had also had cataracts in both eyes that will need sorting. Perhaps the first trab has just exacerbated the cataract. Thanks again for your reply, it’s reassuring.

[Eahldt in reply to RobMitchell]

My experience certainly tried my patience. There was about three weeks when, after developing the cataract and before having it removed, I could hardly see at all as my vision in my other eye is so poor. Things went uphill after about three months and after six months my optician felt my eyesight had stabilised sufficiently to issue a prescription. It can be a long road, not necessarily the same for everyone, but I’m sure you will see things improving - literally!

[AlfredV]

It was months for me. I did some research and found that visual improvements can be experienced up to two years later. I also found that the drops regime would negatively affect my vision. I think it is likely that you will see significant improvements further down the way.

[RobMitchell in reply to AlfredV]

Excellent. Thank you AlfredV. I think I’m probably a bit unduly anxious and need a bit more patience. Fingers crossed and thanks for telling me about your experience.

[Granny79]

I had a Trab in my right eye in October and was told by the Consultant to wait until 6 months post op before getting regular eye check up.

[Moultrey]

Hello Rob,

I had mine done in one eye 4 months ago and have had a helluva time, vision is completely blurred and not improving at all. Was 20/25 post surgery now 20/65.

I hope somebody reading this can offer some support as I am afraid it will never come back to normal.

[RobMitchell]

Thanks for your reply. That’s a worry! Someone said it can actually take up to a couple of years to correct itself. Hope that’s the case for you.

[Astilbe]

My trab took at least 6 months to settle. Along with blurriness I kept having fluctuating double vision. I thought it was going to be a permanent thing, but a year on it is really good and comfortable. Unlike the presserflo shunt I had in my other eye. Now I need a cataract op in the trab eye. I am told that there is a 20% risk of the trab failing so I have delayed having it done.

[Moultrey in reply to Astilbe]

Thanks for this Astilbe…at least I know it not just me with blurry/double vision. I will hang in but don’t have much of a choice on that anyway.

[RobMitchell in reply to Astilbe]

Ah that’s great. Thanks very much, Astilbe. I will continue to try and feel hopeful that the blur will clear!

[Lovearoastdinner]

Hi, I had a Trabeculectomy in my left eye on 5th June. Like you my vision is still blurred. I am now drop free and last drop was Atropine which dilated the pupil. (I also had low pressure (7) on last test). Was told vision could be blurred for 2 months! Very frustrating situation as feel as if in limbo.See consultant on 1st Aug. which seems long way off!

[RobMitchell in reply to Lovearoastdinner]

Ah ok. Thank you for your reply. A very similar situation to me. I’m a bit frustrated that I’ve had different reasons from the medics on blurriness. The last Dr said it was the Atropine still in the system but I’m not sure. Pressure is now at 8. Will see what happens. Still very relieved to have had the stitches out. Here’s hoping the blur lifts for us both!

[Lovearoastdinner]

Hi, just wondered how long you've been off the Atropine drops. I finished on 17th July, and eye still dilated. Hoping that once eye gets back to normal vision will improve. I had stitches in my eye, but they are dissolvable! I think my worry is the length of time between appointments, when unsure of how the eye should be! Won't know what pressure reading is until 1st Aug. Thanks again and take care.

[RobMitchell in reply to Lovearoastdinner]

Think I did four weeks on Atropine. Still dilated. I am still on the anti biotics. I did about 3 weeks on the steroids until they stopped then. The follow up for me has been good but that might’ve been because it took a while to get pressure to 8/9 and apparently there was a lot of swelling, so getting steroid dose right was an effort. Glad you got dissolving stitches. Taking mine out wasn’t pleasant (but bearable) but I really struggled with the irritation of having them in. I need to have the right eye done (pressure at 20) but I won’t be rushing into it!

[Lovearoastdinner]

Thanks for your further comments. I am now drop free, also had steroid drops, initially every 2 hrs and antibiotic which was 1 x 4 times a day. Only had Atropine for 2 weeks. Using a dry eye drop as and when req'd. Impatient to see consultant. Need reassurance that all is good with eye.Hope your blurriness eventually clears and good luck as and when you get right eye sorted. Angela

[Celtic-mad]

hi Rob, had my treb in March this year, still got blurred vision, hoping it’s being caused by ikervis drops I am still on

[RobMitchell in reply to Celtic-mad]

Ah ok. Thank you. That’s reassuring. Hoping I can get through my DVLA test with a bit of blurriness on Friday! Hope yours clears soon. Thanks again (and hail hail).