My understanding is that it may not prevent a gradual increase in pressures but it is supposed to prevent a sudden spike in pressures from happening which would lead to possible loss of your vision.
I was under the same impression as you seem to be -- that if I got the iridotomies done, then my pressures would remain low. But as they have been rising in last two years I questioned how this could be so and was told that it just prevents the sudden spike in pressure that can cause damage.
I am mostly glad I had it done as I live 2 hours from my provider and loss of vision damage can happen within an hour. I did develop a dysphotopsia in the lower field of vision on my right eye after the LPI. You can read about it above.
For a couple of years, I was monitored once a year. Now I am monitored every six months. If things continue to look okay on exam but pressures are edging upward -- only monitoring is recommended. I see my provider again near the end of October so will find out if any significant changes.
@jigglejaws94 thank you so much. My pressures are already elevated (low-mid20s). What is your doctor recommending now that your pressures are increasing and why didn’t the procedure prevent that from happening? I’m just afraid to have the procedure if it isn’t going to prevent my pressures from increasing further.
I don't recall exactly what they were before the surgery but within normal limits. Now, 6 years later, my pressures are rising. I can't recall what they were in April. 25 maybe. The iridotomy holes are still patent.
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.
I was nervous about this procedure but now that I am reading all of these comments, I am terrified. I am 49 and have good vision but my eye pressures fluctuate between 22-26. I was diagnosed with narrow angle and my doctor recommended this procedure. For those of you who regret the procedure, did you have high pressure before the procedure? I think I want to ask if I can just use eye drops instead. This is a terrible decision to make to make.
Hello -- I just had a Yag laser iridotomy done in my right eye about 3.5 weeks ago. The reason is because I have narrow angles and my ophthalmologist said that there was a rapid change in the angles over a four month period -- so much so that he has never had a patient progress so rapidly. Anyway -- I did not find the laser procedure itself to be painful. It felt like a little pinch in the eye and I believe it took about 5 "hits". Unfortunately, my physician didn't really warn me about what the after effects could be. You will likely be given a drug called pilocarpine which causes your pupil to constrict. It apparently also helps with thinning out the iris so that a good spot can be found to place the iridotomy. But it constricts the pupil for about 12-16 hours (or at least that is how long it lasted for me). I experienced very hazy vision for that same length of time also. Felt like I was looking through a brownish wedding veil or through a haze. About an hour after the procedure, I detected a light aberration -- which appeared as a horizontal line of light across my field of vision. Over the next few days, that progressed to more of a blob of light or a crescent of light in the mid to lower visual field. It does not bother me all the time but is worse in bright light and I notice it he most when I drive.
The placement of my iridotomy was in the superior position which is somewhere between 11 and 1 o'clock position. I felt good about that position because my eyelid would cover the iridotomy hole. However, that is not a guarantee that you will not experience dysphotopsia (glares, haloes, crescents, etc) following the procedure. In fact, there is some literature that indicates that some patients still experience this phenomenon even when the eyelid fully covers the iridotomy hole. It is especially worsened if your eyelid only partially covers the hole (and I think that may be my situation).
I spoke on the phone with my doctor the following week. I let him know that I had done some online research and found that there was quite a bit of information regarding the horizontal approach -- at the 3 or 9 o'clock position -- and that the indication was that there was less problems with light aberration at this position. He said that the trend is to do it at the 3 or 9 o'clock position but that he prefers to do it at the superior position based on a study that came out about 10 years ago indicating that 9 percent of people will notice some light aberration in a fully covered iridotomy, 18 percent experience the same with a completely exposed iridotomy site and 27 percent with a partially covered. So he says that the risk of experiencing this doubles with a fully exposed iridotomy. HOWEVER, there is a lot of literature that indicates that the patients who get the 3 or 9'oclock position (referred to as either on the horizontal meridian or temporal position) have far less difficulty with dysphotopsias.
I am scheduled to have my left eye done on October 26th. My physician said he is happy to place the iridotomy in the temporal position, if this is what I prefer. Well, I don't like the weight of the decision on me -- because I'm not a doctor. So I wrote up an email describing my situation and sent it to about a dozen professors specializing in Glaucoma and several of the leading medical school ophthalmology programs. I have received answers back from about 5 physicians. Four of those recommend the horizontal approach. Two of them sent me a reference to a study and if you would like that forwarded to you, you can let me know your email.
It has been frustrating because prior to the procedure -- my vision was perfectly fine. Now, I have to deal with this problem. So I want to do everything in my power to understand and be educated on what the best approach for my left eye. I know that though my vision was perfectly fine and now it is messed up --- that I am a ticking bomb waiting to go off -- and could easily develop acute angle closure glaucoma and be in an eye emergency in short order.
Hello Sharon: On May 9th I will have an iridotomy in both eyes. I have an anatomical narrow angle...the ducts themselves are very narrow. I do not know if my particular problem will require a certain placement for the iridotomy or not. I will have my pre-op consult on ay 4th. I have heavy eyelids that make my eyes look narrow and downward slanted. I was reading and found out that there are cosmetic procedures that can be had to fix the overhanging eyelids, bags under eyes too. In some cases, when it affects vision, your insurance will pay for it! Read up on blephoplasty and other procedures. On a good eye website, it will be discussed. Could you please send me the link (s) to any articles that will guide me to learn more and have an intelligent conversation with my Dr. He also told me a year ago after an emergency condition of posterior vitreous detachment followed by a U-shaped (worse kind) of retinal tear and I had emergency retinal surgery! No pain, but saved my eyesight--otherwise blindness would have ben my fate!. This entire journey has been surreal--since out of 12 kids (6 boys, 6 girls) I had the best eyesight!
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.
I had this done 5 years ago. It was one of the most painful thing I’ve endured.
I have had non stop eye pain ever since. I complained right after, weeks after, a couple years ago and again this week.
They are finally sending me to have it looked at. Not to mention the holes are completely closed now so they are recommending I have it done again!
Not sure that will happen until they figure out why I have such excruciating pain in my eyes now.
Thank you so much Colleen. Nothing is being done to help improve my vision. Before the LPI, I only needed reading glasses for reading, etc. Now, both my near and far vision are worse off, and I’m suffering from miserable side effects. My eyes may eventually adjust to the bilateral white lines, but the spotty vision in my left eye and the extreme eye fatigue and light sensitivity along with bilateral eye pain are hard to deal with. I’m considering the use of tinted contacts to see if they will help ‘mask’ the linear dysphotopsia, and as a last resort, I’m researching the possibility of getting the holes sutured. I just wish I could talk to someone who has had their iridotomies closed up. Is there a way I can post a question to other folks who have had LPIs and have or are experiencing the same symptoms as I have…the way @jigglesaw94 did on 9/25/16? Thanks so much for reading this long winded reply.
Sung Ae (@babyholder).
Thank you so much Colleen. Nothing is being done to help improve my vision. Before the LPI, I only needed reading glasses for reading, etc. Now, both my near and far vision are worse off, and I’m suffering from miserable side effects. My eyes may eventually adjust to the bilateral white lines, but the spotty vision in my left eye and the extreme eye fatigue and light sensitivity along with bilateral eye pain are hard to deal with. I’m considering the use of tinted contacts to see if they will help ‘mask’ the linear dysphotopsia, and as a last resort, I’m researching the possibility of getting the holes sutured. I just wish I could talk to someone who has had their iridotomies closed up. Is there a way I can post a question to other folks who have had LPIs and have or are experiencing the same symptoms as I have…the way @jigglesaw94 did on 9/25/16? Thanks so much for reading this long winded reply.
Sung Ae (@babyholder).
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My understanding is that it may not prevent a gradual increase in pressures but it is supposed to prevent a sudden spike in pressures from happening which would lead to possible loss of your vision.
I was under the same impression as you seem to be -- that if I got the iridotomies done, then my pressures would remain low. But as they have been rising in last two years I questioned how this could be so and was told that it just prevents the sudden spike in pressure that can cause damage.
I am mostly glad I had it done as I live 2 hours from my provider and loss of vision damage can happen within an hour. I did develop a dysphotopsia in the lower field of vision on my right eye after the LPI. You can read about it above.
For a couple of years, I was monitored once a year. Now I am monitored every six months. If things continue to look okay on exam but pressures are edging upward -- only monitoring is recommended. I see my provider again near the end of October so will find out if any significant changes.
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1 Reaction@jigglejaws94 thank you so much. My pressures are already elevated (low-mid20s). What is your doctor recommending now that your pressures are increasing and why didn’t the procedure prevent that from happening? I’m just afraid to have the procedure if it isn’t going to prevent my pressures from increasing further.
I don't recall exactly what they were before the surgery but within normal limits. Now, 6 years later, my pressures are rising. I can't recall what they were in April. 25 maybe. The iridotomy holes are still patent.
@jigglejaws94 what were your pressures before the surgery and what are they now?
@am155 what were your pressures before the surgery? Have you had any issues after the surgery?
I was nervous about this procedure but now that I am reading all of these comments, I am terrified. I am 49 and have good vision but my eye pressures fluctuate between 22-26. I was diagnosed with narrow angle and my doctor recommended this procedure. For those of you who regret the procedure, did you have high pressure before the procedure? I think I want to ask if I can just use eye drops instead. This is a terrible decision to make to make.
Hello Sharon: On May 9th I will have an iridotomy in both eyes. I have an anatomical narrow angle...the ducts themselves are very narrow. I do not know if my particular problem will require a certain placement for the iridotomy or not. I will have my pre-op consult on ay 4th. I have heavy eyelids that make my eyes look narrow and downward slanted. I was reading and found out that there are cosmetic procedures that can be had to fix the overhanging eyelids, bags under eyes too. In some cases, when it affects vision, your insurance will pay for it! Read up on blephoplasty and other procedures. On a good eye website, it will be discussed. Could you please send me the link (s) to any articles that will guide me to learn more and have an intelligent conversation with my Dr. He also told me a year ago after an emergency condition of posterior vitreous detachment followed by a U-shaped (worse kind) of retinal tear and I had emergency retinal surgery! No pain, but saved my eyesight--otherwise blindness would have ben my fate!. This entire journey has been surreal--since out of 12 kids (6 boys, 6 girls) I had the best eyesight!
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1 ReactionI had this done 5 years ago. It was one of the most painful thing I’ve endured.
I have had non stop eye pain ever since. I complained right after, weeks after, a couple years ago and again this week.
They are finally sending me to have it looked at. Not to mention the holes are completely closed now so they are recommending I have it done again!
Not sure that will happen until they figure out why I have such excruciating pain in my eyes now.
Sung Ae, you are replying exactly right. When you @mention a member, they will get a notification that you are responding to them.
Thank you so much Colleen. Nothing is being done to help improve my vision. Before the LPI, I only needed reading glasses for reading, etc. Now, both my near and far vision are worse off, and I’m suffering from miserable side effects. My eyes may eventually adjust to the bilateral white lines, but the spotty vision in my left eye and the extreme eye fatigue and light sensitivity along with bilateral eye pain are hard to deal with. I’m considering the use of tinted contacts to see if they will help ‘mask’ the linear dysphotopsia, and as a last resort, I’m researching the possibility of getting the holes sutured. I just wish I could talk to someone who has had their iridotomies closed up. Is there a way I can post a question to other folks who have had LPIs and have or are experiencing the same symptoms as I have…the way @jigglesaw94 did on 9/25/16? Thanks so much for reading this long winded reply.
Sung Ae (@babyholder).
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