Is redness normal after tube shunt surgery?

What's normal

The conjunctiva is opened, the plate is stitched to the wall of the eye, and a patch graft is placed over the tube, so redness in that area is expected. It typically fades over several weeks. EyeWiki describes a topical antibiotic and steroid continued for 4 to 6 weeks, and those steroid drops are part of what brings the redness down.

Even after healing, the area over the plate and the patch graft can look a little different from the rest of the white of the eye. EyeWiki says the patch graft can be processed pericardium, sclera, fascia lata, dura, or cornea, and these can look like a slightly raised lighter or greyish patch.

Usually fades over 4 to 8 weeks. New or worsening redness at any point afterward is a reason to be seen.

When it stops being normal

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says to call your ophthalmologist immediately if your eye is red, painful, or just does not feel right after a drainage implant, because this could be a sign of infection that must be treated right away. BrightFocus Foundation notes infection can occur months to years after the operation, so this is a lifelong rule.

New redness right over the tube, or the sensation that something is poking through, deserves prompt attention. EyeWiki says tube erosion usually results from conjunctival thinning near the limbus over the tube and requires prompt surgical intervention to prevent endophthalmitis.