YAG Laser Iridotomy Complications

Thanks. I am following up and awaiting a phone call from my doctor. n the meantime, I have done some research and have found several studies and mentions that the superior placement (between 11 and 1 o'clock) tend to have more problems with halos, crescents, light problems through that new whole. The main thought is that the tear meniscus at the edge of the upper lid creates a base-up prism effect when overlapping the position of the LPI. One article suggested lifting the eyelid to see if the light resolves -- mine does. Well, I can't sit around lifting my eyelid all the time. BUT, I will not have a superior placement in my left eye. The suggestion is 3 or 9 o'clock position. I never would have imagined that if the LPI was covered with the upper eyelid that there would be a problem. But apparently EVEN in cases where the hole is completely covered with the eyelid -- this problem can occur. Interesting, huh? No fun messing with eyes. Especially eyes that were seeing just fine and now aren't. Blah.

Hi Jiggle, (what is your name? hehe)… I like Jiggle though.
I understand completely. I have extremely severe dry eye (MGD), and was dealing with that. Then, just within the past year or less I started experiencing a pressure feeling in my eye BALLS. As a head ache sufferer, I know the difference between a head ache that causes eye pain versus the pressure feeling in my eye balls. I’ve never had high pressure numbers. They always fluctuate from 12 to 18, so that has not been a problem. And for the most part, I see just fine. Anyhoo, my doctor took a closer look at my eye and suddenly said, “ you know your body”, you have VERY narrow angles. Thank you so much for introducing me to yet another scary sounding issue. Yeh, BLAH!!! So I researched this and went ahead with this Yag Laser Iridotomy. Only after the placement she chose (I never read about placement - she did 9 o’clock) I started reading about that. I have only so far had my right eye done. Going back in Feb. for the left. Anyhoo, I still have slightly blurred vision and my pupil is not quite back to normal size although improving. I had this done 3 days ago. Just wanted to share my so far experience. I am very confident in my doctor. She is very understanding and appears also extremely competent. She also performed an Amniograft on both my eyes last year. It hasn’t cure my problem but got rid of theses yucky blobby looking things in the corner of my eyes. I’ll let you know my progress. My eye is also slightly sore, but I would expect that.
Talk soon and Happy New Year!

Hi There,

I'm Nancy Lynne. I was just reading your posts and wondered how your eyes are doing now? Did you ever get the left done? If so, did you choose 3 or 9 o'clock or 12? Any information on your experience and how you're doing would be appreciated. Thank you!

Thanks. I am following up and awaiting a phone call from my doctor. n the meantime, I have done some research and have found several studies and mentions that the superior placement (between 11 and 1 o'clock) tend to have more problems with halos, crescents, light problems through that new whole. The main thought is that the tear meniscus at the edge of the upper lid creates a base-up prism effect when overlapping the position of the LPI. One article suggested lifting the eyelid to see if the light resolves -- mine does. Well, I can't sit around lifting my eyelid all the time. BUT, I will not have a superior placement in my left eye. The suggestion is 3 or 9 o'clock position. I never would have imagined that if the LPI was covered with the upper eyelid that there would be a problem. But apparently EVEN in cases where the hole is completely covered with the eyelid -- this problem can occur. Interesting, huh? No fun messing with eyes. Especially eyes that were seeing just fine and now aren't. Blah.

Glad to hear things went well for you. I still notice the dysphotopsia in right eye at times but it is not very bothersome.

Right eye was 12 o'clock. Left eye was 9 o'clock. I did not have any complications with the 9 o'clock. The dysphotopsia is in the right eye and is just an ellipse of light near the midline of field of vision at lower edge. I have grown used to it and don't always notice it. If the sun is very bright, I will notice it. I dropped my glasses on asphalt last year and got two little scratches on the lower portion of the lens. Seems like it magnifies the dysphotopsia problem at times this past summer.

Just saw this reply. Good to know!!
Are you overall happy you did the iridotomy?

I consider it a good thing that I had it done. Knowing that I have a "relief valve" so to speak, is comforting. I live 2 hours away from my ophthalmologist and that was one of the considerations. He said that if the pressure spikes suddenly that if you do not receive treatment within an hour, you may lose vision in that eye. So worth it then, to me.

Yes had bilateral LPIs month ago and I’m absolutely miserable. My eyes were perfectly fine before the procedure, but now I have white lines in both eyes (especially in bright settings or when I’m looking at the computer etc.) the left being much worse. In addition, I have ‘spotty, blotchy vision’ in my left eye. I’ve been experiencing some pain in both eyes and headaches too. By 1pm, my eyes are extremely fatigued and eyes are super sensitive to bright lights. Wish I could turn back time and decline the procedure.