YAG Laser Iridotomy Complications

Posted by jigglejaws94 @jigglejaws94, Sep 25, 2016

Has anyone had a laser iridotomy with resultant "ghost images" or a crescent of light in field of vision?

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Has anyone had both eyes done at the same time? Would you recommend it?

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@tssandy

Has anyone had both eyes done at the same time? Would you recommend it?

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I can't imagine that any doctor would do both eyes at the same time. Usually you have them done a week apart. I wouldn't recommend it. In my case, they were about a month apart -- as I researched different positions.

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@tssandy

Has anyone had both eyes done at the same time? Would you recommend it?

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Hi Sharon I read ur posts about having a temporal LPI. I’m so glad I found ur posts! They are very informative. How r u doing now?? I had my left eye done a week ago and a day after the procedure I noticed a streak of light in my inferior visual field, it’s very annoying especially when I’m driving. My doctor positioned the hole in between 11 and 1 o’clock. I too read several articles on how temporal LPI actually reduces the chance of having visual disturbances but since it’s fully exposed it still poses some risks. I’m scheduled to have my right eye done in a week but I’m not sure if I should request a temporal placement? Since u had both done, which method caused the least side effective for u?

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@tssandy

Has anyone had both eyes done at the same time? Would you recommend it?

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Hello -- I'm glad that my posts helped someone -- you! I do still see the crescent of light near the bottom of my field of vision for my right eye which had the iridotomy at about the 12 o'clock position. I don't think I notice it as much anymore. And I only notice it under certain lighting conditions. Bright sunlight is the worst -- and especially when driving. I find that wearing sunglasses helps immensely. I was never one to wear sunglasses much but I sure do now. My left eye was the temporal position. I have very little difficulty with any light abberration in that eye. Once in a great while, if the light is very bright and at an odd angle, I will see a little bit on the lateral side of my vision which is vertical. I wish that I had done extensive homework before I had my right eye done --- but I didn't anticipate trouble, nor did my ophthalmologist. Had I known that I would get a dysphotopsia -- I would definitely have requested the temporal position for both eyes. I hope that with some time -- maybe up to even a couple of years --- that this light streak in your visual field will lessen.

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@tssandy

Has anyone had both eyes done at the same time? Would you recommend it?

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Thank u for the quick reply that was so helpful and also comforting to know that the temporal LPI actually cause less issue for you! I think I will request to have the LPI placed temporally on my right eye. I was very upset knowing that I will most likely have to live with dysphotpsia for the rest of my life and the laser was supposed to help my vision but instead it made it worse.. but after reading ur response and a couple other clinical reports, it seems that the streak of light will become less noticeable over time. And just curious, has ur doctor done temporal LPI on any other patients in the past? Because my doctor mainly does superior LPI, so I don’t know how safe is it for me to have him perform this procedure on me with a method that he doesn’t have much experience with.

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I am possibly needing LPI. My doctor gave a rating to my angle. I could not find a rating system referred to anywhere in my research. Is there one assigned to this condition? Ie., what number would be considered high risk? Also, I have read in British journals that there is some concern cataracts can be caused by the surgery. Has anyone experienced this outcome?

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@kca56

I am possibly needing LPI. My doctor gave a rating to my angle. I could not find a rating system referred to anywhere in my research. Is there one assigned to this condition? Ie., what number would be considered high risk? Also, I have read in British journals that there is some concern cataracts can be caused by the surgery. Has anyone experienced this outcome?

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Check out this article. It speaks of grading of the angle closure.

https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/managing-the-narrow-angle-patient
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@jigglejaws94

Check out this article. It speaks of grading of the angle closure.

https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/managing-the-narrow-angle-patient

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Thank you for this article. (I have been rather busy and apologize for not replying sooner.)
Question for you -- are you glad you had the LPI done? Have you experienced any major set-backs or side effects?

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Yes I have that problem presently my Dr. is working on a solution that hasn’t really come up with one yet !

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I am totally freaked out because my specialist is strongly suggesting I need an iridotomy. But after answering my questions today, I find out I have no glaucoma, but he is saying I have narrow angle glaucoma. (Hmm, I am guessing I have narrow angles with no glaucoma). I have no symptoms, no headaches, no problems with my vision, nothing. My pressure is 12/15. No change in the last 6 weeks in pressure. Given that I have no problems now with my eyes, I am pretty understandably apprehensive about getting surgery (which the doctor's office insists is not surgery but rather a "procedure").
Input please. What do you think?

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