Laser Peripheral Iridotomy
A treatment used for patients who have or are at risk of developing acute angle closure or who have chronic narrow angle glaucoma.
What happens during the procedure?
The laser procedure usually takes a few minutes.
A series of drops will be instilled into your eye to prepare it for the laser.
A lens will the placed on the eye through which the laser is applied.
The procedure is generally painless, but some may feel a slight discomfort in the eye.
Once the laser has been performed another drop will be instilled into the eye and once the eye has returned to normal a follow up check will be performed.
What to expect after the procedure?
Some patients may experience a slight discomfort for a few hours after the laser treatment. There may be slight blurring of vision for a day or so. Anti-inflammatory drops will be prescribed for one week. Those who are already on anti-glaucoma drops should continue on them unless advised otherwise.You will then be required to be seen by Dr Wilson again in six to eight weeks as a follow up
What are the risk / side-effects of the procedure?
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Severe pain or blurred vision – with or without difficult focusing.
2. Iritis –The eye can become inflamed
3. Pigment dispersion – pigment from the iris deposits into the structures of the eye.
4. Haemorrhage –bleed at the laser site this can be worse if on anticoagulant treatment
5. Elevated intraocular pressure – more common with glaucoma.
6. Lenticular opacities – with difficult focusing.
7. Monocular diplopia –double vision in one eye if the LPI is too big
8. Posterior synechiae – when the iris adheares to the lens
9. Corneal damage
10. Failure – Late closure of iridotomy
These complications usually do not lead to any major problems and are rare