@hsantos435 I did get a second opinion and that doctor confirmed I have grade 2 angles and said I would āprobablyā be OK to wait but told me that if I got a stabbing pain in my eye, I needed to go to the emergency room immediately and that I could go blind in 1-2 hours. Because I travel a lot, it seemed too risky to wait and I knew I would always be worried about it when traveling so I decided to have it done. It seems like most doctors do one eye at at time, so I would ask your doctor why he wants to do both at the same time. I hope that helps!
I am scheduled this Thursday, Dec 1 2022 and as I read all the comments here, majority is negative and so little positive š It terrifies me more and more. I even saw a post somewhere where they said this laser iridotomy is a biggest scam and Doctor's are performing this procedure left and right $$$. I know we have to trust our Doctors but GOD help us if they are lying!!!
Good morning. I just wanted to share my experience with the group. I had a laser iridotomy procedure done to both my eyes. My right eye was done last week and my left eye was done yesterday. I first went to my optometrist about 6 months ago due to the fact that I had a weird feeling in my right eye - a feeling like there was fluid building up in my eye and had headaches. The dr said it looked like I had narrow angles and sent me to an Opthamologist. At that appt she said that I do have narrow angles and scheduled me in for a laser iridotomy the following month. I think I was in shock at the appointment and didnt ask all the questions I had. I ended up spending a lot of time online connecting with people who had the procedure and reading so many posts and horror stories about the actual procedure and the possible side effects. There were some positive experiences as well. I was so freaked out that I almost cancelled my appt even though I was still experiencing symptoms. Going online can be scary. I was so scared that entire month before my appt. I did go ahead with the procedure on both eyes. The right eye last week and my left eye yesterday. I would like to let you know my experience. I understand that everyone is different and will experience different things and in no way am I trying to downplay the experiences of others but only want to share my experience to try to help others. Before my appt I did take 2 tylenol as I heard that some people get awful headaches from the drops they use to constrict the pupils. At both appts I did not experience any headaches or pain from the drops. Right before the laser I had the numbing drops put in. Next is the lense thing they put on your eye that has gel on it. It didnt hurt just felt a bit weird. I was told a specific area to look at. All I could see was the gel....no lights or anything. The sound of the laser wasnt loud at all...just a clicking sound. Didnt startle me at all. The right eye took about 8 times and I could feel something only with the last 2 lasers. Wasn't painful at all!!! Felt like I got something in my eye. My experience with the left eye was almost the same except that eye was only lasered 4 times but my eye pressure went up afterwards which I got drops for that I will use for a week and will use the anti inflammatory drops for 4 days. Fortunately I haven't had any side effects really. My eyes are/were sensitive to lights and screens for a few days after and I haven't noticed anything else except that I dont have the headaches anymore and that feeling of fluid build up has gone away. I hope this might help someone. I was so scared going in I was actually surprised that I did. I go in a month for a follow up appt to make sure everything looks good.
I was right there with you until the very end..Lol. same story almost. I had one zap of the left eye and I think 3 or 4 of the right. It's been two weeks this Monday and it's been an on again off again hell. Eye pain in one, neither, or both the entire 2 weeks. Extreme light sensitivity. Great days. Terrible nights. Or great for days. No predictable days, times, or reason. What I do notice is the connection with my ears, nose, and eyes. After reading all the posts, I think I'm going to get an ENT appointment. I have always had sinus issues. Fingers crossed! Thanks for sharing.
@shasta2292 Thank you for your response. Did you get a second opinion before deciding on doing the procedure? My doctor is doing both eyes at the same time. Should I be concern?
@hsantos435 I did get a second opinion and that doctor confirmed I have grade 2 angles and said I would āprobablyā be OK to wait but told me that if I got a stabbing pain in my eye, I needed to go to the emergency room immediately and that I could go blind in 1-2 hours. Because I travel a lot, it seemed too risky to wait and I knew I would always be worried about it when traveling so I decided to have it done. It seems like most doctors do one eye at at time, so I would ask your doctor why he wants to do both at the same time. I hope that helps!
@hsantos435 I had the laser iridotomy on 10/18 and my doctor placed it at 9:00 position. It wasnāt as bad as I thought. The pressure in my eye dropped from 24 to 16 at my 2 week checkup so Iām happy about that. I donāt have any vision issues but my pupil is a little bigger now. My doctor isnāt concerned about my pupil size but I am waiting another month to see if my pupil goes back to normal before having my other eye done.
@shasta2292 Thank you for your response. Did you get a second opinion before deciding on doing the procedure? My doctor is doing both eyes at the same time. Should I be concern?
@hsantos435 I had the laser iridotomy on 10/18 and my doctor placed it at 9:00 position. It wasnāt as bad as I thought. The pressure in my eye dropped from 24 to 16 at my 2 week checkup so Iām happy about that. I donāt have any vision issues but my pupil is a little bigger now. My doctor isnāt concerned about my pupil size but I am waiting another month to see if my pupil goes back to normal before having my other eye done.
@jigglejaws94 thank you again for all of the information you have shared on this thread. My appointment for my first eye is on 10/18 so I will continue to do my research before then. I am getting a second opinion next Wednesday as well and will see what that doctor thinks. Thank you again!
Hi - I was diagnosed with closed angle or narrow angle glaucoma and was told the only fix is the laser iridotomy. Is there anybody here that had an alternative? I wish they give you some type of option rather that get the procedure right away. Thought it's a bit extreme š
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 again for all of the information you have shared on this thread. My appointment for my first eye is on 10/18 so I will continue to do my research before then. I am getting a second opinion next Wednesday as well and will see what that doctor thinks. Thank you again!
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 didnāt the procedure prevent that from happening? Iām just afraid to have the procedure if it isnāt going to prevent my pressures from increasing further.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
I am scheduled this Thursday, Dec 1 2022 and as I read all the comments here, majority is negative and so little positive š It terrifies me more and more. I even saw a post somewhere where they said this laser iridotomy is a biggest scam and Doctor's are performing this procedure left and right $$$. I know we have to trust our Doctors but GOD help us if they are lying!!!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI was right there with you until the very end..Lol. same story almost. I had one zap of the left eye and I think 3 or 4 of the right. It's been two weeks this Monday and it's been an on again off again hell. Eye pain in one, neither, or both the entire 2 weeks. Extreme light sensitivity. Great days. Terrible nights. Or great for days. No predictable days, times, or reason. What I do notice is the connection with my ears, nose, and eyes. After reading all the posts, I think I'm going to get an ENT appointment. I have always had sinus issues. Fingers crossed! Thanks for sharing.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@hsantos435 I did get a second opinion and that doctor confirmed I have grade 2 angles and said I would āprobablyā be OK to wait but told me that if I got a stabbing pain in my eye, I needed to go to the emergency room immediately and that I could go blind in 1-2 hours. Because I travel a lot, it seemed too risky to wait and I knew I would always be worried about it when traveling so I decided to have it done. It seems like most doctors do one eye at at time, so I would ask your doctor why he wants to do both at the same time. I hope that helps!
@shasta2292 Thank you for your response. Did you get a second opinion before deciding on doing the procedure? My doctor is doing both eyes at the same time. Should I be concern?
@hsantos435 I had the laser iridotomy on 10/18 and my doctor placed it at 9:00 position. It wasnāt as bad as I thought. The pressure in my eye dropped from 24 to 16 at my 2 week checkup so Iām happy about that. I donāt have any vision issues but my pupil is a little bigger now. My doctor isnāt concerned about my pupil size but I am waiting another month to see if my pupil goes back to normal before having my other eye done.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactionsany update?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi - I was diagnosed with closed angle or narrow angle glaucoma and was told the only fix is the laser iridotomy. Is there anybody here that had an alternative? I wish they give you some type of option rather that get the procedure right away. Thought it's a bit extreme š
@jigglejaws94 thank you again for all of the information you have shared on this thread. My appointment for my first eye is on 10/18 so I will continue to do my research before then. I am getting a second opinion next Wednesday as well and will see what that doctor thinks. Thank you again!
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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
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 didnāt the procedure prevent that from happening? Iām just afraid to have the procedure if it isnāt going to prevent my pressures from increasing further.