Aqueous shunt implant surgery

[MeoWow]

Hi Everyone,

I have just been recommended the Aqueous shunt surgery. I have had Glaucoma for years (since 30s, now I'm in my mid 40s) and was on latanoprost and everything was working well until I had the retina detachment surgery in May and my pressure will not drop, tried various drops without much luck. Not sure it's a side effect of dexamethasone or due to the impact of retinal detachment surgery itself. So far I tried the following without results:

1. Stopped dexamethasone for a week after the retinal team were happy with the progress.

2. Tried the laser Cyclodiode surgery three weeks ago but again have to use dexamethasone to bring down the inflammation.

I'm a bit nervous / anxious about the surgery and would like to know few things :

1. Is shunt implant the best option here ? Are there any alternative less invasive procedures?

2. Is the shunt implant surgery really painful post operation ? How long do I have to take days off work?

3. Is the surgery a one-off? Does the microscopic drain pipe stay there permanently?

4. Does it change your eyes / eyelid visually?

5. I used to play sports and jog twice a week until the retinal detachment, how long does it take to get the life back to normal activities post surgery?

Thanks for all for your help!

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This message is via mobile so please excuse typos and brevity!

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello MeoWow. I am sure our members will reply to your post. There are many members who have undergone this surgery and ages vary. I have attached a link to our booklet on AS

glaucoma.uk/product/aqueous...

[MeoWow in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you Trish!

[Loki666]

I had this surgery a year or so ago, I had also had a retinal detachment previously as well as congenital cataracts, so the eye had many ops. over the years.

Recovery after op was not at all painful or uncomfortable above the normal anesthetic side effects and a gunky eye, and soon returned to normal. The drops regime is a pain and obviously you need to be careful with showering and the general tenderness around the eye.

In my case the results only resulted in in initial small drop in pressure which the consultant monitored for a while and then decided to remove the stent that is in the tube and the pressure dropped a bit more.

Now, I'm back to sports and on less drops, don't stress!

[MeoWow in reply to Loki666]

Hi Loki - Quick question, roughly how many months after your shunt surgery did you get the cataracts removed ? I can barely see in my left eye at the moment due to cataract but can see much better using the pin hole and the consultant said they will eventually be doing the cataract surgery after the shunt implant has settled down etc but they didn't give me a time frame. Cheers, SJ

[Loki666 in reply to MeoWow]

Sorry, missed this question. I should have been clearer. I had congenital cataracts, so when very young and had them removed in the late 1960s. So the complete oposite to you.

Just for information, in those days it was a major procedure where they basically mushed up the lens completely, not like the relatively small an more non invasive procedures of today. For anyone who's had the old method it adds complications further down the years which you won't have. Looking better for you all the time!

[MeoWow in reply to Loki666]

Thanks Loki!

[MeoWow]

Thank you Loki for the reassuring kind words! Much appreciated