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About Glaucoma
Learn about glaucoma, its symptoms & risk factors, treatment options and how to live with or care for someone with the disease.
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I am 33 years old and have had three glaucoma surgeries. I had the 350 mm Baerveldt implant seven weeks ago and now I have double vision. I feel like the eye that had the surgery is not looking in the same direction as my other eye. Will I need to have surgical intervention for the eye muscles? Is the insertion of a different implant possible or likely? Has anyone had strabismus surgery following an eye implant? If so, what were the results? I have exhausted the ophthalmologist resources in my local area and feeling desperate at this point! [ 02/04/12 ]

Thank you for your question. I am sorry that you are having double vision after your Baerveldt implant. Double vision can be disabling and I urge you to seek further help. Because the Baerveldt implant is a larger one, it is implanted under the eye muscles, and sometimes, although usually rarely, cause eye muscle problems that either require removal of the implant or strabismus surgery. Sometimes the eye muscle issues can improve over time as the capsule over the implant remodels, which may be why you have not been recommended for either of those options. You mention that you have exhausted ophthalmologist resources in your area, but a surgeon who performed the Baerveldt’s implant knows about the potential eye muscle issues, and should be able to help you, either by referring you to another glaucoma specialist and/or a strabismus surgeon. To answer your last question, there are patients who have had strabismus surgery after glaucoma implants, and it showed that the problem can be addressed, but requires the expertise of both glaucoma and strabismus surgeons. Therefore, you may want to seek your doctor’s advice and ask for a referral to an academic center where both glaucoma and strabismus surgeons have likely worked with patients who have had this problem before.

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Last Review: 09/19/11

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