Trabeculectomy Week 1: What to Expect

Week one is the heaviest week for drops and appointments. EyeWiki describes a first postoperative day visit and then a visit at about one week, with visits every one to two weeks after that for the first two months. Your surgeon is watching the eye pressure, the shape of the bleb, and whether the front of the eye is holding its normal depth.

Vision in the operated eye is usually poor this week. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says vision may be blurry for several weeks after trabeculectomy, and the Glaucoma Research Foundation describes blurred vision for about six weeks before it usually returns to its earlier level. Do not judge the result of the surgery from what you see in week one.

The drop schedule is intense on purpose. EyeWiki describes topical corticosteroids given four times daily up to as often as every two hours, along with an antibiotic four times daily for the first week. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says these medicines are prescribed for several weeks to help prevent infection, discomfort, and scarring. Set alarms, and do not stop or change any drop on your own.