Mrs MADV

[Culurgionis]

I have had glaucoma for a while and have been on various drops to help lower the pressures.More recently have had laser treatment as pressures continued to rise.Unfortunately the pressures have still risen after a short time and therefore I have understood that the optic nerves are deteriorating and have been offered a procedure to again help lower the pressures,called an aqueous shunt implantation.I wasn't ready to accept this operation until I have heard more about it.If anyone has had this procedure done recently,could you tell me how you have got on since having it done. Many thanks

[Snoggles]

Hello... I had it done two years ago and have not looked back. The pressures have stabled albeit a bit on the low side, however it has helped with the headaches and eye pain. I hope this helps and good luck. It was an incredibly big decision for me at the time.

[Culurgionis in reply to Snoggles]

Thank you for your positive reply.I may review the idea of having it done in the new year now,fingers crossed,it will be the right decision.

[Rainyday2024]

Hello, I also had laser treatment for glaucoma, but it didn’t help lower my pressure. Over the years I have been using so many different drops then about three years ago, my consultant recommended I have surgery. In my particular case, trabeculectomy was too risky so he suggested a tube or shunt implant. I was very apprehensive and even scared to have such surgery, so I kept putting it off. When I saw the consultant earlier this year, he told me that I would most likely lose what little sight I had left in the eye! At the end of April he performed a Paul Tube implant, which is a newer type than the Baerveldt Shunt. I had it done under general anaesthetic at the eye hospital in Birmingham by a consultant/surgeon who I trusted. The operation itself went well, but there is a lot of aftercare, mainly follow-up visits and a strict drops regime during the first few weeks, even months! It is now almost six months since my op and I am currently using two types of drops per day - in both the operated and unoperated eye, which also has glaucoma. Our eyes are so precious and any operation that can hopefully save our sight is worth having. I hope this has helped you. x PS I am a “buddy” on here, so if you’d like to chat to me, please contact Kieran and I’m sure he could arrange it.

[USME in reply to Rainyday2024]

I've had dozens of las10 × er procedures, multiple drops over 30+ years. I had trabeculectomy and tube shunts both eyes about 10 years ago. All went well till other cornea issues in one eye. Other eye stable no drops!

[Flowergirl24]

I had two shunts about 2 years ago and both pressures in the eyes are now good. On Latanaprost for the left eye as the pressure did go up slightly when I was being treated for my Uveitis.

[Culurgionis in reply to Flowergirl24]

Thank you

[KieranGlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hi. We have a great booklet on aqueous shunt implantation which you can view or order from here - glaucoma.uk/product/aqueous....

[ODTAA]

I went through a whole series of eye drops to lower my eye pressures, almost all of which produced intolerable side effects. Eventually the consultant said "If you can't tolerate this eye drop, we shall have to resort to surgery". Shortly afterwards, he operated on my left eye, inserting a Xen implant, which is a tiny drain pipe. Soon afterwards, he did the same in my right eye. Both were done under local anaesthetic, so I was awake all the time and was able to talk to him and to the nurses. There was no pain, although I did feel slight pressure from time to time. If I had known how easy it was, I would have asked for the surgery long before, instead of wasting months with eye drops. After a time, the shunt in my left eye got blocked by scar tissue, and the pressure rose. He opened it up again, and eventually cleared the blockage. At the same time he removed the cataract from both eyes (not at the same time). That eye has been stable for 2 years now. The right eye pressure has risen a bit, and I now use preservative free trusopt twice daily in my right eye only, and this is tolerable, and seems to be keeping the pressure under control. Based on my experience, the eye surgery is nothing to fear, and is likely to be very effective.