I am due to have this operation and I am wondering if anyone would like to share their experiences,if they have had the operation, or if anyone is due to have it and has any questions etc.In looking into this, one thing I have found is that there seems to be a surprising and,( to me ), concerning disconnect between information given on this operation in relation to potential complications, compared to both real life experiences of people that have had the operation and of the various studies on this operation that I have read.
These studies are available on the internet on the internet.
Information from people who have had the operation can also be found .
I feel it is important that people have all the information possible, both to make an informed decision on whether or not to have this operation and also if there is no choice.
Of course, this is only my personal opinion.
For everybody who has, or are due to have an eye operation of any kind I hope things work out well for you
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broboy
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I have had a preserflo shunt inserted 3 years ago. Despite my fears I found the procedure painless. Recovery was uneventful, lots of eye drops post op and was approx 3 months till I was told it was ok to get my prescription replaced in my glasses as it had changed slightly. My pressures remain around 12 in that eye without drops (which the target pressure) so basically all good. Hope this helps
I came on here to get some more info. on people's experiences after I had read some studies on this, and I was concerned at some of the findings in terms of complications.
I think so far reading comments on here , yours, is the only one where the operation has gone well without any quite serious complications.
Thanks for taking The time to reply, I appreciate it.
I had the Preserflo implant in May this year under general. Lots of drops and appointments in the days and weeks afterwards. All was going well until 6 months later I was told it wasn’t draining as well as it should and pressure was up to 23 in that eye. I’m now scheduled for a revision in the new year and back on Ganfort drops. A bit disappointing and there weren’t any warnings that this could happen.
I appreciate you taking the time to reply.I hope everything works out well for you.
From the information from studies I have read on this and reading people's experiences on here, I think there is a real and worrying disconnect between what information is given to people prior to having the operation and the actual reality in terms of possible complications, some of which are serious.
In my own experience the potential complications that I have found about about since agreeing to the operation have not been mentioned to me at all.
Although it makes it more of a worry, now I have much more information on it, I would rather be fully aware in advance.
Thanks, the information they give you before obtaining your consent to the op probably sets out all the complications that can potentially happen. From the comments on this site and other forums, scar tissue is a factor in all glaucoma ops. That’s not to say it will happen in your case though. Good luck with it all.
I had a Preserflo inserted in my right eye in January 2023. Lots of drops afterwards but all well as pressure down to 10. When last checked in July this year, pressure was up a bit at 13 but told this was OK. That eye tends to be very dry but HYl Forte drops help with that. No other problems.
I had a Preserflo shunt in my right eye in July 2023 and was told beforehand I would go blind within two years if I didn’t have the operation (so there was no choice in my mind)! My pressure was 33 and rising at this point.
I found the initial injection the most uncomfortable part of the procedure. All went to plan and numerous checkups since my pressure last month was 10 so all good currently.
Wishing you lots of luck with your operation, the anticipation beforehand was much worse than the actual process!
Hi, I had a Preserflo in my right eye this time last year, I had become unable to tolerate any drops in that eye as they all caused soreness and swelling. My eye pressure quickly rose to 40 and the Preserflo was arranged very quickly. The procedure was done under a local anaesthetic and was fine albeit scary at the time. The next day my pressure was down to 6 and rose to a steady 10 over the next few weeks. There are a lot of drops to use afterwards and I was very careful to make sure I didn’t miss any, my phone alarm was constantly pinging for weeks 😂. I haven’t had any post op issues at all and the Dr is very happy with the results. I saw him 2 weeks ago and everything is fine and it’s draining well and pressure is 12, I will go back in 6 months. I wish you all the best too.
Thanks for going to the trouble of replying so comprehensively, I appreciate it.it's great news for you, it's an incredible difference in your pressures and that you have not had any post op. complications.
Sadly,for a lot of people they have had opposite experiences and have had quite serious complications of one sort of another.
My impression so far is that it seems to be a bit of a lottery both in terms of success and complications.
Sometimes I think you only tend to hear about when things go wrong and not so much about the straightforward experiences which can give the wrong impression. There is always a risk but for me it was the right thing to do otherwise I would definitely have lost the sight in my eye.
You have probably read my experiences with Preserflo so far elsewhere on this forum, so I'll just give a brief update. The pressure in my left eye, which was operated on in Dec 22 without complications, has now crept back up to the mid-teens, even on Monopost, so I suspect a revision to be suggested, or maybe a Trabeculectomy, when I next see the specialist. The right eye, which initially had hypotony and a choroidal effusion after its operation in July 23, is stable at around 8-9 without meds and the Preserflo is working well. I lost no vision as a result of the ops, so they weren't harmful. So, you can't really predict how things will go, but you have to balance the uncertainties against the alternative. I will opt for surgery of some sort again because I don't like the alternative. I hope yours goes well.
I hope you don't mind me joining in with these responses. I too am in the same boat as you. I am currently on newer drops for my glaucoma as the pressures had arisen to 25 again and therefore they have offered the Preserflo shunt. But I couldn't face the idea this side of the year with all the business in my life at the moment. The timolol does exacerbate my asthma but I am able to help that for now. My next appointment will be in January and I am hoping that the drops have brought the pressures down to an approved place. As Pete_uk says below, Dr Google could probably be misleading but I don't think that the teeny booklet given to me at the time was helpful enough either. I put myself here for the same reason as everyone else, to gauge a truer experience from those having had the same op done. I see ,a very mixed bag of results after the op. It does certainly sound like most have a blurriness that continues for longer than I expected and some are having little ops to adjust or remove the shunt or even 'needling' what does this mean?
In January I will have read enough here to go better armed with questions when I see my consultant again. Thank you so much.🙂
Hello,I really appreciate you going to the trouble to explain your situation.
I didn't know what needling was either, I've just looked it up.rather than me trying to explain it here, just Google it to get the accurate info.
I suppose I am accepting now that regardless of possible complications,quite serious ones, I have to have the presserflow done as I am on maximum number of drops , and the pressures are not under control.
It's strange, as some days the pressures are well controlled , other days they are not, and I take the drops in the same way every day !
Good luck with it all and I hope the different drops work in bringing your pressures down to the correct level.
Dr Google can be misleading. A lot of the studies can be outdated, small sample sizes, could be biased, could be in a very different part of the world with different techniques and including people in very different circumstances to yourself, all leading to an unrepresentative example of the results you can now expect.
These studies also have to list all possible risks regardless of how likely they are. A lot of the risks can also be mitigated with further treatment or just resolve themselves.
In my opinion your consultant who has access to a lot more data and a wealth of personal experience would be best best placed at deciding with your unique set of circumstances what is the best option for you, and assessing that risk is part of their job.
I have heard a lot of positive experiences with the preserflo microshunt
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