Most people don't have to be admitted to the hospital. But children who have the surgery may stay in the hospital overnight. And in some cases, your doctor may recommend that you stay in the hospital overnight after surgery.

You will probably see the doctor within a day after tube-shunt surgery and several other times during the weeks after surgery, depending on your recovery. It is very important to keep these appointments.

After surgery, antibiotics may be applied to the eye. They may also be injected under the lining of the eyelid (conjunctiva) at the time of the surgery. At the end of surgery, the eyelid is usually taped shut, and a hard covering (eye shield) is placed over the eye. Corticosteroid medicines are usually applied to the eye for about 1 to 2 months after surgery to reduce inflammation in the eye.

Physical activity that might jar the eye needs to be avoided after surgery. For several weeks after surgery, you will probably need to avoid bending, lifting, and straining.

After surgery, people who have problems with constipation may need to take laxatives to avoid straining while trying to pass stools. Straining can raise the pressure inside the eye. Your doctor may suggest wearing a shield at night to avoid rubbing the eye when you sleep.

Tube-shunt surgery is most often used for people who have had previous trabeculectomy surgery that was not successful, usually due to scarring.

Tube-shunt surgery is also frequently used to treat glaucoma when a person has a:

• Difficult case of glaucoma and the doctor thinks that other surgical methods may fail.
• Form of glaucoma in which new blood vessels grow on the coloured part of the eye, or iris. This is called neovascular glaucoma and occurs primarily in people who have diabetes or who have vascular diseases in the eye. It is difficult to control.
• Corneal transplant, which is a surgery to replace the clear surface on the front of the eye (cornea (Figure 1)).

Figure 1 - Cornea, Lens, and Iris

The iris is the coloured part of the eye. A circular muscle in the iris controls the amount of light entering the eye through the pupil, the black area in the centre of the iris.

The cornea is the outer clear, round structure that covers the iris and the pupil. The cornea directs light rays into the eye and helps focus them on the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye, providing sharp, clear vision.

The lens is located behind the iris and is normally clear. Light passes through the pupil to the lens. Small muscles attached to the lens can make the lens change shape, allowing the eyes to focus on near or far objects.

Current as of: September 27, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.