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Experience with XEN or GATT eye surgery to reduce pressure
I have had glaucoma for over 30 years and am now on the maximum drops but the pressure is starting to rise again. Two possible surgeries have been proposed by different glaucoma specialists. XEN involves a tiny flexible tube the size of an eye lash inserted inside the eye coming out very close to the surface of the eye under the upper eye lid to allow fluid to drain easier. GATT also involves a tube inserted inside the eye to redirect fluid bypassing clogged drain. I would like to hear from patients and doctors what they think of these. Both have lots of pros and cons. I've already lost central vision in one eye and would like to keep good vision in the other eye. I am 75 and hope to need my vision for another 15-20 years.
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Hi Don @dsh33782 - This info sounds very promising. I found a study on Google Scholar that mentions XEN is a little more promising than the GATT eye surgery. I'm hoping members who have had the procedure can provide some feedback for you.
XEN gel implant versus gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (PDF): https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10792-019-01271-w.pdf
XEN® Gel Stent: A Comprehensive Review on Its Use as a Treatment Option for Refractory Glaucoma: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7335291/
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1 ReactionJohn, all
Thanks that article was helpful. I see GS doc next week to see how new drops and pressure are doing, and I will ask some more questions about XEN.
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2 ReactionsAfter 20+ years of Glaucoma drops, I decided to undergo surgery to treat the Glaucoma in my Left eye, in hopes that it would finally reduce the IOP (pressure) enough that my Ophthalmologist and I no longer have to worry about it.
No more drops. No more Glaucoma. That was the hope.
But the Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy (GATT) procedure at Glaucoma Associates of Texas (GAT) did NOT work for me. Not only did it cause fearful and even painful complications for two weeks after surgery, including complete blindness in the eye, I ended up losing "3 rows of vision"…permanently. If interested in more detail, I have documented my experience and related internet research at the following website: myGATTatGAT.com.
I am so sorry to hear this about your GATT procedure! I had been considering having it done myself, as it’s supposed to be minimally invasive and low risk. Does your surgeon have any explanation for this? I am so, so sorry this happened to you.
Thanks for the sympathetic response, marymj7. The surgeon just says that bleeding (in eye) after this surgery is common...and that mine bled much worse than most. I can't include the full URL here, but you can go to the following website for more detail, if interested: myGATTatGAT.com.
I prepared this site with a description of my GATT experience, along with a lot of related online research regarding GATT's "success" rate and its complications.
I went to your website and read the story of your awful experience. You are so generous to inform the rest of us. I was prepared to speak with my doctor today about a GATT-and even considered traveling to GAT after reading an article by Davinder S. Grover. I have you to thank for educating me far more than any doctor has.