Loss of vision

[MSDav]

I had glaucoma surgery that went wrong. Before surgery I had vision from just below centerline, to top of eye.  I also had peripheral vision to left, top and right. My only vision loss was below the centerline.  The surgery was to preserve the rest of the eye. Eye pressure was only about 19.

After the surgery, pressure was too low at 2, and within a week I had chorodial hemmoraging. Then a week later got a retinal detachment.  Both times I had emergency surgery to fix it.  But almost a year later, my vision is essentially gone, in that eys.  But I still have some vision in the same places as before. But it's essentially uyseless.  It is like a camera where the appature is open wide, and the vision is all washed out.  No contrast.

My vision is very dim. It's as though I was looking through a tissue.  All white, with slight dim vision in paces I used to be able to see.

I have not been able to get my Dr. to explain why this symptom.  The vision is not gone, it's just not bright.  And the way it is, it's useless.

Can someone explain what might be preventing my vision from coming back?  Or more to the point, what is causing the vision to be so dim?  

Is there any hope?  It's almost a year, and no change.  That sounds like permanent. But it's the fact that I still have some vision, in the same places I used to have vision, that makes be believe there must be something to fix this.  If it's like a cataract, that is fixable. But this isn't a cataract.  Could it be a partially healed retina separation?  Would that be fixable?  What causes good vision to be dim vision, with what I've been through?

Thanks

[hogwell]

I'm really sorry for your glaucoma surgery outcome. My last doctor recommends that I look into possible glaucoma surgery also when I do cataract surgery next year, even though my IOP is only around 12-15. What kind of surgery did you have? Do you know?
Thanks.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Primary glaucoma surgery like MSDav describes is usually done on the most severe glaucoma cases,  glaucoma surgery done in conjunction with cataract surgery is often done on well controlled mild or moderate glaucoma cases where  1. the patient is on multidrop therapy which may be difficult to adhere to,  2. the patient is noncompliant about using glaucoma drops or keeping appointments  3 the cost of the glaucoma drops is prohibative, the patient cannot get the drops in (e.g. tremor, stroke).  Cataract surgery by itself usually lower the IOP about 2-3 points.

[hogwell]

Thanks for that information... I will be seeing a new Cataract/glaucoma doctor in January. I'll see what they say about this. My IOP is already pretty low. I had SLT a few months ago. I do not use any drops. Other issues with this eye besides POAG are prior Vitrectomy and macular wrinkle, and now a macular "pseudo-hole" that is not too concerning, according to my retina surgeon. He feels my main issue with vision in this eye is due to the Vitrectomy-induced cataract in that eye, and thinks I should consider matching my good eye (-9D) with an IOL. It will be interesting to see what my new doctor recommends.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Given that information, it would be hard to justify doing glaucoma surgery at the same time which increases the cost and potential complications.

[Jda09]

The retina is what allows us to see light. Damage to it may be the cause, and weather or not it can be improved depends on the cause of the damage. Your symptoms also sound like cataract and eye surgeries often cause it. Steroids after a surgery can increase IOP and so can surgery.
Surgeons are very unlikely to own up to damage caused by a surgery. You'll nee a second opinion.
You should see a retina specialist, but also keep seeing a glaucoma specialist. They may be able to tell you at least what the condition of your retina is. Ask them to explain parts of the eye and how the effect your vision. You can check that your doctor is board certified online.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[MSDav]

I had cataract surgery more than 10 years prior to my current problem. I've been glasses free for those 10 years. But the glaucoma is more recent.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

From your post it seems you just had surgery one one eye. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO PRESERVE VISION IN THE OTHER EYE> Glaucoma is usually bilateral and if bad in one eye usually bad in the other. Also if you have surgical complicat ions in one eye it increases the chance of having problems in the other eye.

There is no way I can give you an exact prognosis on the operated eye except to generalize that given the time since you had your surgery improvement is highly unusual. What you are seeking is a second opinion. You are close to Seattle. I would suggest you get an appointment at the U of WA Dept of Ophthalmology for a 2nd opinion on both eyes.  You can also tell your present eye surgeons you want a second opinion.  

[MSDav]

Yes I'm close to Seattle. In fact graduated from UofW.  I will contact them.

I would like a better status on the condition of my left (bad) eye. There must be a better explanation on the symptoms I'm experiencing.  

With this experience it's going to be a tough sell to get me to do anything to my remaining eye. Apart from my treated eye the kast doc took a working eye and made it not work.

So far my right eye is doing pretty well. I'm using drops in both eyes and keeping a close watch on the good eye.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You would need to evaluate how you feel about continuing with your present ophthalmologists or switching to U of W with both glaucoma and retina specialists.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Given the backlong for appointments start now to arranging your second opinion