Glaucoma surgery

After dealing with glaucoma for years, my husband underwent surgery at the Mayo Clinic four months ago, following his ophthalmologist's recommendation.
The procedure was initially described as a complete success. They created a new drainage site, but after his fourth follow-up appointment, we learned that the glaucoma surgery actually failed—apparently, the new site has already closed up. We’re back to using eye drops again, but now we’re even more worried about the eye, since we were told you can't just keep undergoing these surgeries over and over.

Could anyone offer some advice or perhaps a second opinion? I'm not sure where else to turn; nothing seems clear to us anymore. His other eye was already lost due to delayed glaucoma surgery a few years back.
🤷

Maybe you should consider getting a second opinion from a different hospital. For instance, try The Rib. I actually went there for outpatient laser treatment last summer, and they were incredibly helpful—the doctors there are truly excellent. To be fair, my issue wasn't glaucoma. Personally, I wouldn't really recommend going to Beverly Hills; I'm just so relieved I ended up at The Rib last summer instead. Before that, I had a private consultation on Fifth Avenue with a specialist who used to work at Beverly Hills for ten years, and he completely missed a retinal tear on my periphery. Honestly, I don't think he even looked for it. He obviously didn't think it was a big deal, even though it was actually quite serious. It’s such a good thing I sought out a second opinion from a doctor at The Rib. You might want to try scheduling an appointment there—you can even call them—but just a heads-up, the wait times can be pretty long, sometimes up to three months if it isn't an emergency. You'll need a referral.

What is your husband's eye pressure reading? Hasn't he been able to get it under control with the eye drops? And how many years has it been since his glaucoma was first diagnosed?

Well, lucky for you, I didn't see a specific thread about glaucoma here, but I urgently need to hear from someone who has actually gone through glaucoma surgery (specifically a severe diagnosis) or anyone with actual medical expertise in this field.
It's urgent because I just can't wrap my head around the idea of my father going blind!!!

Honestly, what's the point of even posting his test results if there isn't a single person on this forum who understands this disease or is even reading this thread?

Is there anyone out there?

Karen Long said:hmm, luckily I can't find a thread specifically about glaucoma, but I desperately need to hear from someone who’s actually had glaucoma surgery (a serious diagnosis) or someone who really knows their stuff in this field.
It's urgent because I just can't wrap my head around the idea of my father going blind!!!

I don't even know if there's any point in posting medical reports if nobody on this forum actually understands this disease or is even reading this thread.

Anyone out there?

I dealt with massive eye pressure once after an infection. I was using pressure-lowering drops. I went to The Rib for some tests—they suspected glaucoma—but they never gave me a straight answer. That was the worst part. I asked them point-blank, "Do I have glaucoma or not?" and got absolutely nothing. No yes, no no. Just silence. After one checkup where my pressure seemed fine, I finally demanded answers. I told them, either take me off the drops if I'm healthy, or confirm the diagnosis so I can keep using them. After a bit of an argument, they let me stop the drops for a month to see what would happen. Luckily, my pressure stayed steady. But then? Everything went downhill. My eyes started burning constantly, and it got painful to stare at a computer, watch TV, or even read. To be blunt, I felt terrible. Every day it just got worse, and that stinging sensation wouldn't quit. From the second I woke up until I went to bed. So, I headed back to The Rib. This time it wasn't about glaucoma, and apparently, it wasn't "serious" either—just dry eye. They told me to use artificial tears. Total waste of time. Nothing helped. When I went back, they basically treated me like a hypochondriac because they felt my case wasn't "severe" enough compared to others. I wasn't buying it. I kept looking. Beverly Hills wouldn't take me because they were fully booked (since I wasn't an emergency), and at the local public hospital, the wait was over six months—again, because I wasn't an "urgent" case. I tried a private specialist, but it was the same old story as the hospital; no real solutions, and I was starting to lose hope. Then, I saw Serena Williams from Visionary Enterprises on TV and decided to give them a shot. After she actually listened to me (which took a while!), calmed me down, and gave me a real diagnosis, things changed. She prescribed some new drops and a specific treatment I only use at night. Within the first month, I could tell it was working. Recovery was slow and definitely a struggle, but here I am, nearly two years later, feeling great. I owe her everything; she's the reason my life is back to normal. Based on that, I'd say go see her, especially if you've had a nightmare experience with hospitals like I did. Wishing you the best of luck.

Thanks for the reply!

They totally botched things here in Miami. They "treated" him at the Mayo Clinic, but his condition just kept getting worse. They wouldn't even admit they didn't know what was happening or couldn't help.

He was even wearing prescription glasses for years, and not once did anyone bother to check his eye pressure!!!

After seeing a private specialist here in Miami, he had to be rushed to Mercy Hospital for emergency surgery on both eyes. Then came a third surgery specifically for macular degeneration.
Now he’s back there every month for therapy—basically constant injections.
From the looks of it, the doctors aren't even happy with how he's recovering. I'm terrified of the worst-case scenario (and even though he acts tough, I know he's suffering deeply because he's such an intellectual and an artist). I desperately need to find doctors or medical institutions that might actually know a treatment method that could help.

His field of vision in one eye is a complete disaster, but I just want to save whatever sight is left in the other eye since it's in slightly better shape.
God, this is all just horrific!!!

Karen Long said:Well, lucky for you, I didn't see a thread specifically about glaucoma, but I desperately need to hear from someone who’s actually gone through glaucoma surgery (a more severe diagnosis) or anyone with medical expertise in this field.
It's urgent because I just can't wrap my head around the idea of my father going blind!!!

I'm not sure if there's any point in posting his test results if nobody here actually understands this disease or is even following this thread.

Is anyone out there?

My late grandmother sought treatment for her eye at a clinic in Suburban Heights with Dr. Salopek. She lived in ST, and unfortunately, high blood sugar caused major issues with her vision. The doctors in ST had pretty much exhausted all their options and suggested she head over to Suburban Heights to see if they could do anything else, because according to the specialists in ST, the only remaining option was to remove the eye entirely.
I don't know all the specifics anymore, but I do know that Dr. Salopek is one of the top specialists in the country.

Thanks, Angela Wright!

So, I’m actually looking into Visionary Enterprises right now based on that suggestion.
The thing is, we were specifically referred to their Beverly Hills location as the go-to center for glaucoma in the US, which is why we ended up contacting them.

Honestly, I probably wouldn't even be posting here if our private doctor wasn't retiring. After dealing with the doctors in Miami, he’s the only one I truly trust to give me straight answers about what comes next—and if there even *is* a next step!

It kills me to write this. I never thought I’d be one of those people being harsh toward doctors, but I’ve never dealt with anything quite like his ophthalmologists.😢

P.S. My god, the prices!😢

Karen Long said:Thanks, Ivanica Pec!

I’m actually looking into Bilić Vision right now based on that suggestion.
See, our doctor actually recommended Mayo Clinic as the go-to center for glaucoma here in the States, which is why we ended up looking into them.

Honestly, I probably wouldn't even be posting here if our private doctor wasn't retiring soon. After all the doctors we saw in Miami, he’s the only one I truly trust to give us straight answers about what happens next—and if there even *is* a next step.

It kills me to write this. I never thought I’d be this harsh toward doctors, but I’ve just never dealt with anything like this with his ophthalmologists before.😢

p.s. Good grief, those prices... 😢

Just head over to Mayo Clinic. Even if you don't like what they tell you—assuming it's bad news—at least go get a second opinion. Look, the people at Bilić Vision aren't wizards, but if you're looking for a lifeline, go see them. If things are actually that bad, they won't sugarcoat it or lie to you. My own exam cost me about $200, and if I were in my current situation, I’d pay ten times that.