trabeculectamy

[Justinerose]

I was advised to have this operation done 18 months after successfully undergoing cataract surgery . From having perfect sight in both eyes, I gradually noticed a deterioration in my right eye. As I had been given a lo wee prescription in my left eye in order to allow for reading, I soon noticed the sight in my right eye becoming worse.since I had the operation, I have been checked twice and stitches removed to facilitate the drainage. My pressure is still about 20 and I need to keep up the eye-drops in the good eye plus two hourly drops in my operated eye. I have paid for all this privately as the nhs was inefficient. I need my sight as I am an artist, but I now have blurred vision in both eyes. I’m getting depressed.

[VerdiG]

I also paid privately to have a trabulectomy in my right eye. And like you I am an artist and was terrified of losing vision. You don’t say how long it has been since you had the operation? I am guessing if you are on 2 hourly drops it is still early days? I seem to remember it took a while for my vision to settle in my right eye. Have you discussed the blurred vision with your ophthalmologist and what reason do they give you for vision still being blurred?

[KayGeeBee in reply to VerdiG]

I had Preserflo ops in each eye and it took 3-4 months for the vision to stabilize, and they then slowly drifted during the next 6 months, requiring a couple of optician visits to get new prescriptions for distance vision. For close work, like reading or computer, I bought several pairs of £1.50 reading glasses from Poundland with different strengths but identical frames and kept swapping the lenses around to track my drifting vision. This worked well.

[Justinerose in reply to VerdiG]

My op was 16 th of September and I will have my check up one month later.

I’m sure everything is fine and I know I have a top doctor treating me. However I still get anxious.

[KieranGlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hi there. There are a couple of things that come to mind. It's a little unclear on which surgery you had in which eye and how long ago you had the surgery, but I'll try and provide advice as best as I can.

If you had cataract surgery then it is possible that you have posterior capsule opacification. This is not uncommon and can occur after having cataract surgery. It's not anything to worry about and can be treated with a simple laser procedure, called a laser capsulotomy.

It is also possible that your eye is still recovering from the trab and therefore still experiencing blurred vision. This can sometimes take a little while to settle. As you are still using drops every 2 hours I would imagine that you had the surgery recently so it can just be a case of waiting it out for the eye to heal and settle.

[Justinerose in reply to KieranGlaucomaUK]

My surgery was 16 th September and I have had two checkups to remove stitches. My eye feels good so I will trust in the process. Thanks for your advice

[Justinerose]

Many thanks for all the helpful advice given. I feel totally re-assured.

[Iona57]

Hi Justinerose,I can sympathise with your feeling that recovery from a trabeculectomy is an anxious time. I had a trab in my right 'good' eye on 20th June, and the pressure has dropped from 15 to 4. My focus fluctuated a lot, and vision was significantly blurred for at least eight weeks, partly because I was on atropine eye drops. Even after the drops stopped there was still fluctuation. Time seemed to go so slowly over this period, and it's really a case of holding your nerve. I had an eye test recently, at the three month point, and I'm pleased to say my glasses prescription is pretty much the same as before the operation. I can now still see to thread a needle, which for me is success!

[Lovearoastdinner]

Hi, I had a Trabeculectomy in June. My vision was blurred for 2 months. It won't improve until you are not using drops. Please be vigilant ...no lifting anything that pulls your tum or bending. I did not drive, garden or do housework either. Its harsh, but worth it. Good luck. Angela

[Ironer]

hi I’m 9 weeks down the line of trab and after having the 3 release stitches out 2 weeks ago my pressure last week was 10 which was so goid .

My consultant reduced my predfort to 4 times a day and thus weekend been horrendous as my vision has dipped again actually making me feel ill .

As I’ve had the trab on my goid eye the fear is tremendous and I can’t really motivate myself which does not help.

Not back to hospital for a week but get so anxious.

You get good positive news but vision just doesn’t improve anyone else experienced problems at this stage .

[Justinerose in reply to Ironer]

Hang on in there, this is a journey and you will be fine. It takes a bit of time, stay positive

[Ironer]

Finding it really hard to stay positive , but thank you .