Patient Information

Your Glaucoma Surgery Recovery Guide

Valid for Trabeculectomy, NPDS, Drainage Valves & MIGS

This information is a general guide. Always follow the specific instructions given by your surgeon.

One guide, all glaucoma procedures

These instructions apply to all types of glaucoma surgery: Trabeculectomy, non-penetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS), drainage valves, and MIGS techniques. Some specific details may vary — your surgeon will inform you of any differences for your particular procedure.

PositioningRestrictionsMedicationSymptoms

How to Sleep & Position Yourself

Critical for the first two weeks

1

Head elevated 25–35°

Use extra pillows or place a folded blanket under the head of your mattress. This helps maintain adequate eye pressure and supports healing of the filtration pathway.

2

Do not sleep on the operated side

Lying on the operated eye increases local pressure and can compress the surgical site. Sleep on your back or on the opposite side.

3

Keep your head up during the day

Avoid bending down so that your head is lower than your heart — this raises eye pressure. If you need to pick something up from the floor, bend at the knees.

Activity Restrictions

Do NOT do

  • ✕Lift more than 10 kg (grocery bags, children, suitcases)
  • ✕Bend your head below your heart
  • ✕Strain, hold your breath, or make sudden coughing / sneezing efforts
  • ✕Rub, press, or touch the operated eye
  • ✕Swim or dive for at least 4 weeks
  • ✕Drive until cleared by your surgeon

You CAN do

  • ✓Watch TV and use screens comfortably
  • ✓Read at normal distance
  • ✓Walk at a gentle pace
  • ✓Shower (keeping water away from the eye)
  • ✓Cook (avoiding steam near your face)

Blood Thinners — Do Not Restart Without Clearance

Do NOT restart anticoagulants or antiplatelets (Sintrom, Warfarin, Aspirin, Heparin, Clopidogrel) until your surgeon gives you explicit authorisation. Taking them too early increases the risk of bleeding inside the eye. Please inform your cardiologist or GP of the situation.

Your Medication Schedule

Checklist: Medication Schedule

Antibiotic Drop

Frequency4 times a day
Duration1–2 weeks
Note: If using multiple drops, separate by 5 minutes.

Anti-inflammatory (Steroid)

FrequencyAs prescribed
DurationTailored to each patient
Note: Dosage and tapering schedule are adapted to each case. Shake well.

Previous Glaucoma Drops

FrequencyConsult surgeon
DurationUsually suspended ONLY in operated eye
Note: Never stop drops in your OTHER eye unless told to.

Symptom Guide

What is normal and when you must seek urgent care.

Normal — no action needed

  • Mild foreign body sensation or grit
  • Tearing
  • Blurry vision that improves gradually
  • Mild redness at the surgical site
  • Low pressure (hypotony) — expected after some procedures

Keep an eye on it

  • Redness spreading beyond the surgical site
  • Significant fluctuation in vision
  • Increase in floaters or new shadows
  • Mild-to-moderate pain not relieved by paracetamol

Urgent — seek medical attention

  • Sudden, severe eye pain (possible pressure spike)
  • Sudden dramatic loss of vision
  • Dark shadow or curtain appearing and spreading
  • Severe redness with thick discharge

What Is Normal After Surgery

Blurry vision

Very common in the first days and weeks. It improves gradually as the eye heals and pressure stabilises.

Low pressure (hypotony)

It is normal and frequent for the operated eye to have lower pressure than usual, especially after trabeculectomy or valve surgery. This is part of the intended surgical effect and is closely monitored.

Floaters or shadows

A mild increase in floaters or a blurry area can occur temporarily. If a sudden dark shadow appears and spreads, contact us immediately.

Mild foreign-body sensation

Slight grittiness or tearing in the first days is normal. Do NOT rub the eye.

Hygiene & Eye Care

  • Do not rub, press, or touch the operated eye under any circumstances.
  • Do not use wet wipes near the eye in the first days — they may contain preservatives that irritate the surgical site.
  • When instilling drops, any overflow should be gently dabbed off the cheek — never from the eye itself.
  • Avoid soaps, shampoos, or tap water entering the eye when washing your face or hair.
  • Use the protective eye shield every night while sleeping for at least two weeks.
  • Avoid eye makeup for at least four weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic eye drops (and sometimes a light sedative), so you will not feel pain during surgery — only slight pressure at times. Afterwards, mild discomfort or a foreign-body sensation is normal and manageable with paracetamol if needed.

Glaucoma procedures are performed under a microscope with your head secured in place. Involuntary eye movements are minimal with the anaesthetic in effect. Your surgeon is trained to manage small movements safely.

For desk-based or light work: usually 5–7 days, once vision has stabilised enough. For physical or demanding jobs: at least 2–4 weeks, after a postoperative review with your surgeon. Do not make any plans to return to work before your first postoperative check-up.

Blurry vision after glaucoma surgery has several normal causes: the drops used during surgery, mild swelling, a change in your eye's pressure balance, and the natural healing of tissue. In most cases it improves steadily over days to weeks.

Yes. A very common effect — particularly after trabeculectomy or valve surgery — is hypotony (abnormally low pressure). This is usually intentional and is closely monitored by your surgeon. Unless you experience sudden severe pain or a dramatic drop in vision, do not be alarmed.

No, not without explicit clearance from your surgeon. Taking anticoagulants or antiplatelets (Sintrom, Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Heparin) too early raises the risk of bleeding inside the eye. Your cardiologist or GP should be informed of the situation.

Not on the side of the operated eye. Sleep on your back or on the opposite side, with your head elevated 25–35° above your chest. This positioning is critical during the first two weeks of recovery.

Need to review the instructions?

Use this page as educational support during recovery. For urgent symptoms or scheduled follow-up, use the channel indicated by your surgical centre. For general questions or a voluntary private assessment, you can contact me.

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