When can I go back to work after tube shunt surgery?

No patient education source from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Glaucoma Research Foundation, BrightFocus Foundation, or StatPearls publishes a return to work date for tube shunt surgery, so any specific number you see is a local protocol.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation says most people can move around and return to normal activities soon after going home, while also advising against reading, bending, and heavy lifting, and saying heavy lifting and strenuous activity should be avoided for at least one week. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says you cannot bend over, strain, or lift heavy objects as you recover from a drainage implant.

Sitting jobs usually come back first, limited by blurry vision, which the American Academy of Ophthalmology puts at several days to a few weeks. Physical jobs, dusty environments, and anything with splash risk need explicit clearance. One advantage over trabeculectomy is scheduling. The American Academy of Ophthalmology describes follow up a few times in the weeks after surgery, and calls tube shunt aftercare a less burdensome postoperative care regimen than trabeculectomy.