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Going for Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Surgery

I was diagnosed in 2005 with Narrow Angle Glaucoma. Pressures were 50 and 52 (great story on how I found out). Laser surgery was done but the Eye Dr. did not followup like I have now found out he should have. 2nd Laser surgery was done a month ago. Pressures have come down, but now to where they would like them to be. So they want me to have the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Surgery done. Dr. John Brown is my Dr. at the Minnesota VA Hospital. I have tunnel vision (90% of vision is gone) in the left eye that they want to place the shunt in. I am just willing to lose the eye because It is a hindrance more than anything. I do not feel comfortable with getting the surgery and having to manage the shunt for the rest of my life when I am just about blind in that eye. Save what vision you have in the event that an act of God takes out my good one. Please provide me with some input to help me make the best logical decision. What are the risks involved in having the surgery done as well?  


This discussion is related to narrow angles.
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Best of luck.JCH MD
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Avatar universal
Thank you For the response. 2 days until surgery. I'm just gonna go for it.
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is never a good plan to let any vision "die away" when it can be saved and assume that the "good eye" will be good all your life. I have scores of patients whee something bad happened to the "good eye"  (trauma, disease, ) and it went blind and the "bad" eye is all they have left.

Moreover not doing anything to the bad eye could eventually cause severe pain in the eye that might necessitate removing it from your head.

Get a second opinion from another glaucoma specialist and if they recommend a glaucoma valve surgery suggest you act on that reservation. Most patients with Ahmed Valves don't have any "maintainence"
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