Preserflo Microshunt failed twice : I had a... - Glaucoma UK

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Preserflo Microshunt failed twice

24Arbutus profile image
11 Replies

I had a Preserflo Microshunt in my right eye in December. In April it broke in my eye and I had surgery to reposition it. This week it broke again and I have just had surgery to remove it. I have stitches to repair the puncture. I’m not sure I fully understand the reason why this happened but I believe it’s because I have a thin cornea. The whole experience has been really unpleasant and I’m now back on eye drops. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

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24Arbutus profile image
24Arbutus
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11 Replies
stephanie1977 profile image
stephanie1977

Hi! Sorry to hear about your failed operations. I had a failed trabeculetomy after 9 months due to scarring and am back on drops. I can relate that it is so disappointing nevermind how the whole thing overtakes your life with anxiety. I wonder what they will suggest you do next. Let us know. Meanwhile hang in there!

24Arbutus profile image
24Arbutus in reply tostephanie1977

Thank you for your kind message. I’ll post what happens next after my next follow up appointment. I suspect that I will return to eye drops.

hirsey12 profile image
hirsey12

Sorry to hear about your Preserflos. Was it painful when they broke? I had one implanted in my right eye in May and hate to think that could happen. Keep us updated on what happens next.

24Arbutus profile image
24Arbutus in reply tohirsey12

it wasn’t painful - my eye started to water a lot, gradually over a few days my visual field appeared to narrow and darken and I prisms from certain angles. Don’t worry too much my brother and a friend have both had this operation on both eyes and it’s been successful.

broboy profile image
broboy

I'm very sorry about your experience I hope things work out well for you.

I'm booked I to have this done, really worried when I read the different complications people have had with this.

24Arbutus profile image
24Arbutus in reply tobroboy

Fortunately my eyesight has completely restored to how it was before the two failed preserflo microshunt implants. It took a couple of anxious months until this happened. I’m resigned to using eye drops two at night and one in the morning indefinitely. I have accepted the reality that preserflo implants are not right for me. My consultant told me that every glaucoma case is different so you may be completely fine. I hope all goes well for you.

broboy profile image
broboy in reply to24Arbutus

hi,I'm glad your eyesight has completely restored.

can I ask you,

do you still have the presserflo implants in your eyes ?

are your pressures under control ?

All the very best.

24Arbutus profile image
24Arbutus in reply tobroboy

No I only had it done in my right eye. After two failed attempts, I decided it was wise to have it removed and to go back to using eye drops. My original intention was to have a Preserflo Microshunt in both eyes so that I could stop eye drops but my bad experience has completely changed my mind. I read somewhere that long term use of eye drops causes thinning of the eye tissue which may be why my eye couldn’t tolerate the implant. I have been using eye drops for over 15 years. My eye pressures are currently stable on eye drops at 10 to 12 each eye. When I went to surgery my right eye pressure was 19. I hope this helps.

broboy profile image
broboy in reply to24Arbutus

I'm glad things are ok for you now.why do you think the eye drops are managing your pressures much better now, from 19 to 10-12, are you on different drops now ?

my consultant has told me different drops won't more any difference for as he thinks they are more or less all the same.

so I can't get him to agree to change them so that I can at least try, hence me having to agree to this presserflo, it's the last thing I want really, reading the problems people have had with it.

24Arbutus profile image
24Arbutus

I don’t know why the pressure in my right eye has improved and I’m not sure yet how long the improvement will last. It’s early days yet as my last tests were in October followed the Preserflo Shunt removal in early September. I take Dorzolamide Timolol followed by Bimatoprost in the evening and Dorzolamide Timolol in the morning. I won’t have another check for at least six months. When the Preserflo Microshunt broke and pierced my eye in September, it caused the pressure to drop very low which necessitated emergency surgery to remove it - maybe it will climb back up again, I hope not. My brother had the same operation in both eyes and it was completely successful so he doesn’t need eye drops. He’s 5 years younger and his glaucoma was diagnosed much later.

broboy profile image
broboy in reply to24Arbutus

thanks for taking the time to reply and to explain everything ,I appreciate it.I hope the drops keep your pressures under control without you needing another operation, especially after the bad luck you have had with it.

you probably know anyway , but your optician will check your pressures for you useing the 'puff' tester. I use Specsavers and I can check my pressures, without having an eyesight test in between hospital appointments,

It isn't as accurate,but it's not far off.

Good news about your brother.

All the best.

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