After Iridotomy - eye pain and headaches 2 months later

Also be aware that when they dilate eyes the angle will narrow. They are suppose to check eyes for narrow angle BEFORE they dilate, but they do it first.

I had 20/15 distance vision just 4 months prior to that awful procedure. That is better than 20/20. Never had to wear glasses to see to drive. The LPI caused fast progression of cataracts because it is actually an injury to the eyes.

I am sorry this happened to you. Your story is really getting to me and making me think twice. I had wondered if maybe the success rate of LPI was dependent on the skill of the surgeon, but it seems everywhere I read reviews, I only read regrets. We are all told the same thing - do it or go blind. Some people have narrow angles and never progress to glaucoma. The problem is that there are no predictors to say who will and who won't. I have given up all sugar and processed food and anything else that could raise my eye pressure. Under these circumstances, I found it surprisingly easy to do. We celebrated a birthday recently, and I found myself staring down at my piece of cake like it was arsenic.

The doctor did check me after dilation. I will make sure the next one checks me before, which is not something I had given any thought to.....thanks

You said that you had your cataracts removed. Did the replacement Intra Ocular Lens help at all to offset the side effects from the LPI?

I can only speak about my own experience, but I do know that getting those holes put into my irises feels like there is a flashlight shining into my eyes all the time. I can see a white glare across both eyes when my eyes are open. Only relief is when eyes are closed obviously. I was not told this either. The dr said the procedure was at corner of my eye, not in the iris! Our iris is like our camera lens really.

Getting the cataracts removed did help me to see better as far as some of the blur, but it actually caused even more glare because the cloudiness had been removed. So now I see halos around everything. My eyes also shimmer. It is so awful. Going outside is blinding and I get lightheaded. After getting the LPI I went to so many drs desperately trying to see if I could somehow get holes in my irises stitched back, but was told I would just get used to it. Every dr also told me that LPI does not affect vision. This angered me because it did indeed mess my eyes up. One dr even told me that the good news was that I now would get cataracts a lot sooner. I found no humor in it at all, but he was correct. I did indeed get cataracts that progressed very fast. I guess what he meant was that the cataract would cut down on the glare because it would kind of clog up the holes. He was right because the glare is brighter since getting cataracts removed. I wish now I had not, but I
had to wear 3 different pair of glasses to see. Strong ones to read, ones for just seeing across the room, then lighter ones to drive. It was insane. I had glasses everywhere. Another dr told me I was just spoiled because I had such great vision before. It is like looking through a puffy dandelion, but center is more clear now. So upsetting.

Just 2 days prior to the LPI I was target practicing and hitting targets better than my hubby. I never needed glasses.

I truly regret believing the dr and I indeed curse him for the issues it has caused. Since I had great vision prior I think it has effected me mentally as well. I know that sounds dumb, but I never realized how much I depended on my eyes for so much. My balance is even off, my depth perception is gone now as well.

Sorry for the long novel, but please get another opinion. Vision is a precious thing. That LPI messed my life up in so many ways. If you do not have high pressure I have no idea why any dr would do this! It is barbaric in my opinion. I asked over and over if it would harm my eyes or affect my vision. Every person said no way. Then AFTER it was done the same ones I had asked said I would get used to it. So they knew it caused issues! It boils down to getting the money.

For me it has been like trying to see over a cotton ball taped under both eyes at all times. Try that all day every day and see how awful that is.

I have read about LPI causing "ghosting" , in which they add that it is something that people "get used to" and "causes no problems". Well, you are proof that it does cause very bad problems.
And I can't believe that someone actually called you spoiled for having had excellent eyesight.... Really shameful on their part. They depend heavily on their eyesight for their profession and should not look at others as any less.

I am getting a 2nd opinion,. You can bet I will bringing up your story at that appointment.

Hello @shama3,

I noticed that you wished to post a URL to an article with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Please allow me to post it for you.

- Has the EAGLE landed for the use of clear lens extraction in angle-closure glaucoma? And how should primary angle-closure suspects be treated https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7002615/

- Clear Lens Extraction: First-Line Treatment for Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma? https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/clear-lens-extraction-for-pacg

Feel free to tell them everything that I have said because I think this practice should be forbidden for anybody that does not have high pressure in their eyes. To me having a preventive thing such as that is devastating because you take away somebody’s good vision that they may have had, just in case. That is absolutely ridiculous! If you found any other stories, I would also bring those to that doctor’s attention as well. Like I said before I was told over and over again by everyone in that office that no one had ever had any issues. Well guess what. I sure did. It has been 4 years and the issue never stopped and I never “got used to it” as that woman said I would. They made a problem for me that never existed and also took away something I relied on. I also lose my balance a lot now, too and am leery of driving. It is awful.

Then every time something does happen it is just rare. I’m the one that gets it, so things are not as rare as they say. They just lie or do not care. They want to get their money in their pocket and go about their merry way. That dr that did this should have it done to himself if it is so safe just so he knows what it feels like. Maybe he would be more hesitant to hurt someone else. That’s just my take on the whole thing. I am so sick and tired of being lied to and injured by drs.

Also when I called and was told I would get used to it was an admission that something bad does indeed happen or why else would they have said that. These drs are protected way too much. What ever happened to the oath they take “To do no harm?”

Let me know how it goes with second opinion. I would be very interested to hear it. Take care of yourself and your eyeballs.

I would appreciate it if you would post these. I think people should be informed.

Thank you sincerely!

Thank you. I will update even though it is a 4 month wait. I was reading that after Iridotomy, people have to be checked regularly to ensure that the holes don't close up on them. In your case, I hope they do. You likely don't need them anymore now that you have had cataract surgery. Your cataract surgery likely will protect you from progressing to glaucoma since now you don't have to worry about your lens growing and narrowing the angles further and further.
The surgery also likely widened your angles - also protective for your future.

I am wondering why you have depth perception and balance problems though ?? Did the Iridotomy affect your visual acuity to where it is hard for you to see the curb or steps or bumps in the sidewalks that you are walking on?

I had an iridotomy done on the NHS 7 months ago. The lady doctor zapped my right eye 3 times ( is this normal I thought it would have been just one zap? ) It felt as though someone had kicked me in the eye each time and consequently I refused to have the left eye done, It left me with a bruised feeling in and around the eye socket' I still have the pain to date and it often bothers me at night if I sleep on my right hand side the pressure from the pillow makes it very uncomfortable The vision in my right eye has also changed ...it's now a bit blurry and when reading, the individual letters are not clear as they each have a sort of ghost shadow behind them. I'm now on the cataract waiting list and wonder if this might improve things. Anyone have similar experience ?

Yes. After the LPI was when all my balance and depth perception issues started. It started immediately after, so it was not a coincidence like one dr told said to me. It has been 4 years since mine was done and they have not closed up. I also think people with auto immune issues like I do will fare worse.

The dr did 7 laser shots in each eye.