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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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jennyone | @jennyone | Oct 12, 2016
In reply to @jennyone "I have been advised by my ophthalmologist to have a YAG Laser Iridotomy, I am having..." + (show)
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I have been advised by my ophthalmologist to have a YAG Laser Iridotomy, I am having concerns about this procedure, basically the after effects and or the pain during the procedure, If anyone out there have had this procedure done will you kindly share your experience and after affects. Thank you in advance.

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Because I have narrow angles.

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jennyone | @jennyone | Oct 12, 2016
In reply to @jennyone "I have been advised by my ophthalmologist to have a YAG Laser Iridotomy, I am having..." + (show)
Profile picture for jennyone @jennyone

I have been advised by my ophthalmologist to have a YAG Laser Iridotomy, I am having concerns about this procedure, basically the after effects and or the pain during the procedure, If anyone out there have had this procedure done will you kindly share your experience and after affects. Thank you in advance.

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Thank you Sharon for sharing your experience, it was very enlighten, Although I am scheduled in less than a week to have the procedure done I still have not fully made up my mind to go forward. Although it was comforting to here that there was minimal pain I am mostly concerned about the complications after the procedure you mentioned as well as further surgeries. I do know if I do not have the procedure I will be facing problems as well. Stuck on not knowing what to do. Thanks again

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jennyone | @jennyone | Oct 12, 2016
In reply to @jigglejaws94 "I forgot to mention that in addition to the pilocarpine drops to constrict the pupil, another..." + (show)
Profile picture for jigglejaws94 @jigglejaws94

I forgot to mention that in addition to the pilocarpine drops to constrict the pupil, another drop was given to reduce inflammation and also numbing drops are given. A special lens is placed on the eye that has gel in it -- I worried about my blinking but with this lens in place, if you do blink, it just hits the lens.

There is a photo of this lens in this article: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1844179-overview

Also, if you would like to see someone getting an iridotomy, here is a video clip: http://www.rootatlas.com/wordpress/video/645/how-to-perform-a-laser-iridotomy-video/

Also, I didn't mention that following the procedure, I had a fair amount of pain. I took Tylenol (but not ibuprofen or aspirin) before the procedure which was recommended. The pilocarpine is known to give some folks a brow ache. Indeed, it did. My whole eye ached (but I have pretty sensitive eyes, I think -- sometimes they hurt for a few days after getting poked at at the ophthalmologist's office). I needed more Extra Strength Tylenol 3 hours after the procedure and then was concerned when I needed again at just 2 hours. I called the doc on-call and she assured me that since the pain did respond somewhat to Tylenol that it was not pain due to my IOP rising. She advised switching to Advil. I was also concerned because of the haziness of my vision. She said both the pain and the haziness were due to inflammation and to increase the prednisolone drops to get as much on board that night to reduce inflammation.

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Thank you this whole procedure is a nightmare to me! just thinking about it!!!!!!!

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jigglejaws94 | @jigglejaws94 | Oct 12, 2016
In reply to @jennyone "I have been advised by my ophthalmologist to have a YAG Laser Iridotomy, I am having..." + (show)
Profile picture for jennyone @jennyone

I have been advised by my ophthalmologist to have a YAG Laser Iridotomy, I am having concerns about this procedure, basically the after effects and or the pain during the procedure, If anyone out there have had this procedure done will you kindly share your experience and after affects. Thank you in advance.

Jump to this post

In my case, I feel like the risk of the procedure is less than the risk of having an eye emergency with acute angle closure glaucoma -- especially in light of the fact that I have had such a rapid change in the closure over a four month period. It isn't an easy decision though because likely right now (like me) your vision is fine. It is disheartening to have "perfect" vision before the procedure and then this problem with the dysphotopsia after. [I live two hours away from my ophthalmologist -- so scary to think of experiencing acute angle closure glaucoma -- with only a short time to save my vision.]

Did your doctor give you a time frame in which you should have the iridotomy done? Mine said within 6 to 9 weeks. He was really surprised in September when he checked me with gonioscopy. He said that in May, he thought to himself that I wouldn't need any intervention for maybe up to two years. So I don't know why my eyes changed suddenly, but they did.

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jigglejaws94 | @jigglejaws94 | Oct 12, 2016
In reply to @jigglejaws94 "I forgot to mention that in addition to the pilocarpine drops to constrict the pupil, another..." + (show)
Profile picture for jigglejaws94 @jigglejaws94

I forgot to mention that in addition to the pilocarpine drops to constrict the pupil, another drop was given to reduce inflammation and also numbing drops are given. A special lens is placed on the eye that has gel in it -- I worried about my blinking but with this lens in place, if you do blink, it just hits the lens.

There is a photo of this lens in this article: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1844179-overview

Also, if you would like to see someone getting an iridotomy, here is a video clip: http://www.rootatlas.com/wordpress/video/645/how-to-perform-a-laser-iridotomy-video/

Also, I didn't mention that following the procedure, I had a fair amount of pain. I took Tylenol (but not ibuprofen or aspirin) before the procedure which was recommended. The pilocarpine is known to give some folks a brow ache. Indeed, it did. My whole eye ached (but I have pretty sensitive eyes, I think -- sometimes they hurt for a few days after getting poked at at the ophthalmologist's office). I needed more Extra Strength Tylenol 3 hours after the procedure and then was concerned when I needed again at just 2 hours. I called the doc on-call and she assured me that since the pain did respond somewhat to Tylenol that it was not pain due to my IOP rising. She advised switching to Advil. I was also concerned because of the haziness of my vision. She said both the pain and the haziness were due to inflammation and to increase the prednisolone drops to get as much on board that night to reduce inflammation.

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Oh -- I am sorry that you are feeling very bothered by this. For me, more information helps. Maybe that makes it worse for you. What are you bothered about the most?

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jigglejaws94 | @jigglejaws94 | Oct 12, 2016
In reply to @jennyone "I have been advised by my ophthalmologist to have a YAG Laser Iridotomy, I am having..." + (show)
Profile picture for jennyone @jennyone

I have been advised by my ophthalmologist to have a YAG Laser Iridotomy, I am having concerns about this procedure, basically the after effects and or the pain during the procedure, If anyone out there have had this procedure done will you kindly share your experience and after affects. Thank you in advance.

Jump to this post

One other thing I was going to mention is that -- because my angles are so narrow- - I can no longer have a dilated eye exam until the peripheral iridotomy is complete. Dilation of the eye could push the iris and totally occlude the angle - putting my right into acute angle closure glaucoma. As I await my left eye procedure, I've been careful to avoid any cold medicines (not that I usually take them anyway) or anything that will tend to dilate my eye -- as much as possible.

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jennyone | @jennyone | Oct 13, 2016
In reply to @jigglejaws94 "I forgot to mention that in addition to the pilocarpine drops to constrict the pupil, another..." + (show)
Profile picture for jigglejaws94 @jigglejaws94

I forgot to mention that in addition to the pilocarpine drops to constrict the pupil, another drop was given to reduce inflammation and also numbing drops are given. A special lens is placed on the eye that has gel in it -- I worried about my blinking but with this lens in place, if you do blink, it just hits the lens.

There is a photo of this lens in this article: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1844179-overview

Also, if you would like to see someone getting an iridotomy, here is a video clip: http://www.rootatlas.com/wordpress/video/645/how-to-perform-a-laser-iridotomy-video/

Also, I didn't mention that following the procedure, I had a fair amount of pain. I took Tylenol (but not ibuprofen or aspirin) before the procedure which was recommended. The pilocarpine is known to give some folks a brow ache. Indeed, it did. My whole eye ached (but I have pretty sensitive eyes, I think -- sometimes they hurt for a few days after getting poked at at the ophthalmologist's office). I needed more Extra Strength Tylenol 3 hours after the procedure and then was concerned when I needed again at just 2 hours. I called the doc on-call and she assured me that since the pain did respond somewhat to Tylenol that it was not pain due to my IOP rising. She advised switching to Advil. I was also concerned because of the haziness of my vision. She said both the pain and the haziness were due to inflammation and to increase the prednisolone drops to get as much on board that night to reduce inflammation.

Jump to this post

The after effects/complications of the procedure. Other follow up surgeries

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jigglejaws94 | @jigglejaws94 | Oct 21, 2016
In reply to @jigglejaws94 "I forgot to mention that in addition to the pilocarpine drops to constrict the pupil, another..." + (show)
Profile picture for jigglejaws94 @jigglejaws94

I forgot to mention that in addition to the pilocarpine drops to constrict the pupil, another drop was given to reduce inflammation and also numbing drops are given. A special lens is placed on the eye that has gel in it -- I worried about my blinking but with this lens in place, if you do blink, it just hits the lens.

There is a photo of this lens in this article: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1844179-overview

Also, if you would like to see someone getting an iridotomy, here is a video clip: http://www.rootatlas.com/wordpress/video/645/how-to-perform-a-laser-iridotomy-video/

Also, I didn't mention that following the procedure, I had a fair amount of pain. I took Tylenol (but not ibuprofen or aspirin) before the procedure which was recommended. The pilocarpine is known to give some folks a brow ache. Indeed, it did. My whole eye ached (but I have pretty sensitive eyes, I think -- sometimes they hurt for a few days after getting poked at at the ophthalmologist's office). I needed more Extra Strength Tylenol 3 hours after the procedure and then was concerned when I needed again at just 2 hours. I called the doc on-call and she assured me that since the pain did respond somewhat to Tylenol that it was not pain due to my IOP rising. She advised switching to Advil. I was also concerned because of the haziness of my vision. She said both the pain and the haziness were due to inflammation and to increase the prednisolone drops to get as much on board that night to reduce inflammation.

Jump to this post

I understand. I am anxious about my second iridotomy next week and am hoping for a good result.

REPLY
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Jamie Olson | @jamienolson | Nov 2, 2016

@jigglejaws94, Thank you for sharing your experiences with @jennyone, it’s so nice to have someone who is familiar with a similar situation to help guide or bounce ideas off.

@jigglejaws94, how did your surgery go?

@jennyone, did you decide if you were going to go through with the procedure?

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jigglejaws94 | @jigglejaws94 | Nov 2, 2016
In reply to @jamienolson "@jigglejaws94, Thank you for sharing your experiences with @jennyone, it’s so nice to have someone who..." + (show)
Profile picture for Jamie Olson @jamienolson

@jigglejaws94, Thank you for sharing your experiences with @jennyone, it’s so nice to have someone who is familiar with a similar situation to help guide or bounce ideas off.

@jigglejaws94, how did your surgery go?

@jennyone, did you decide if you were going to go through with the procedure?

Jump to this post

After a lot of research and back and forth emailing with Ian Connor MD -- I decided to request a temporal iridotomy on my left eye. My doctor, Dr. Edwards was very fine with that. He had just been to an ophthalmology conference in Chicago and said it is still very much a controversial topic. There are definitely two camps. Anyway, he did do the temporal position. I did not experience any immediate dysphotopsia this time and got on top of the inflammation quicker with additional use of the steroid drops. Next day -- I started noticing that I did have some extra light coming into that eye -- more like a vertical "hunk" or "chunk" of light -- especially noticeable with bright light coming from the left side. It has been a week and this has bothered me less. I am hoping that it improves completely. I still have the more horizontal dysphotopsia on the right side which waxes and wanes, depending on the lighting. So there you have it -- I have an iridotomy, one each of the two positions -- and have some issue with both. I certainly could have worse vision and more problems than I do from the procedures-- so I am thankful. I am also just relieved to stop researching, thinking and spending so much time thinking about what to do about the iridotomy. All done! I will return in two weeks for a dilated exam. Thanks for asking about me.

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