jigglejaws94
@jigglejaws94
@jigglejaws94
Posts: 93
Joined: Sep 05, 2016
YAG Laser Iridotomy Complications
Has anyone had a laser iridotomy with resultant “ghost images” or a crescent of light in field of vision?
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lioness
@lioness
@lioness
Posts: 7721
Joined: Jan 09, 2018
I am totally freaked out because my specialist is strongly suggesting I need an iridotomy. But after answering my questions today, I find out I have no glaucoma, but he is saying I have narrow angle glaucoma. (Hmm, I am guessing I have narrow angles with no glaucoma). I have no symptoms, no headaches, no problems with my vision, nothing. My pressure is 12/15. No change in the last 6 weeks in pressure. Given that I have no problems now with my eyes, I am pretty understandably apprehensive about getting surgery (which the doctor's office insists is not surgery but rather a "procedure").
Input please. What do you think?
@wantingtoknow Hi Lioness here Im 76 now I tell you this as in my 30,s I was told I had narrow open glucoma the Dr put me on drops My pressure was always good like yours ,then after several years on the Timoptic drops he took me of as my pressure stayed the same About a year ago my pressure for the first time was 20/24 Dr gave me drops a year later my pressure was back in the teens again ,she told me I could go of or stay on???? If I remember I,ll use the drops but at my age I have macular degeneration now. I would suggest you go for another opinion and see what the Dr says This is just what happened to me. Good luck.
@wantingtoknow I'm guessing the reason that he wants to do the iridotomy is because your angles are becoming more narrow? I do know have glaucoma but I do have narrow angles. Two years ago, mine suddenly got worse over a 4 month period and so he strongly suggested peripheral iridotomy. It is my understanding that if you have complete closure of the angles, you have a very short window of time to get treatment before you face the risk of losing your vision. Because I live 2 hours away from the ophthalmologist, I opted to go ahead with the procedure, one eye at a time. If you decide to pursue this, my one caution would be to do your homework on the position of the iridotomy. My first one was at the 12 o'clock position and it left me with a dysphotopsia. The second was done at a temporal position. See my above posts for more detailed info about that.
Yes, I can see if there is evidence of a progression – I"d be all for it. But that's not the case. He has never seen me before. And this "diagnosis" has never been given to me before either. So he is saying I have narrow angles, with no glaucoma, and no benchmark to say my angles are getting better/worse/stable. And yes, when I asked he said he does them in the temporal location.
@wantingtoknow Hi Lioness here Im 76 now I tell you this as in my 30,s I was told I had narrow open glucoma the Dr put me on drops My pressure was always good like yours ,then after several years on the Timoptic drops he took me of as my pressure stayed the same About a year ago my pressure for the first time was 20/24 Dr gave me drops a year later my pressure was back in the teens again ,she told me I could go of or stay on???? If I remember I,ll use the drops but at my age I have macular degeneration now. I would suggest you go for another opinion and see what the Dr says This is just what happened to me. Good luck.
Is narrow open glaucoma the same as narrow angle (I'm assuming so). Yes, I think I need a second opinion.
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Is narrow open glaucoma the same as narrow angle (I'm assuming so). Yes, I think I need a second opinion.
Hi! I was also recently diagnosed with narrow angles without glaucoma and an iridotomy is strongly suggested. I’m terrified and doing as much research as possible. Have you gone for a second opinion? Thanks for your help!
Jess
I am possibly needing LPI. My doctor gave a rating to my angle. I could not find a rating system referred to anywhere in my research. Is there one assigned to this condition? Ie., what number would be considered high risk? Also, I have read in British journals that there is some concern cataracts can be caused by the surgery. Has anyone experienced this outcome?
Hi! I was wondering if you went ahead with the iridotomy? I’m also in the same boat and have been doing my research.
@wantingtoknow I'm guessing the reason that he wants to do the iridotomy is because your angles are becoming more narrow? I do know have glaucoma but I do have narrow angles. Two years ago, mine suddenly got worse over a 4 month period and so he strongly suggested peripheral iridotomy. It is my understanding that if you have complete closure of the angles, you have a very short window of time to get treatment before you face the risk of losing your vision. Because I live 2 hours away from the ophthalmologist, I opted to go ahead with the procedure, one eye at a time. If you decide to pursue this, my one caution would be to do your homework on the position of the iridotomy. My first one was at the 12 o'clock position and it left me with a dysphotopsia. The second was done at a temporal position. See my above posts for more detailed info about that.
@jigglejaws94 – I was recently diagnosed with narrow angles without glaucoma or any pressure issues. Your posts have been so helpful in determining the placement of the iridotomy holes. I am absolutely terrified of this procedure (more so impacting my vision, which is fine, than the procedure itself.) I’m thinking of going for a second opinion as well, before deciding on anything. I have done a lot of research in the last few days and I’m still scared.
lioness
@lioness
@lioness
Posts: 7721
Joined: Jan 09, 2018
@jkres007 I'm sorry to hear this I would go for a 2nd 3rd opinion You are with a opthamalogist are,t you
Thank you! I am. I went for my normal annual exam on Dec 14th and saw a glaucoma specialist on Jan 2. He was so quick and just casually was like “yeah so we’ll schedule you for surgery.” I understand that they know what they’re looking at, but I’m thinking that they’re just so quick to say you need surgery. I’m not sure.
lioness
@lioness
@lioness
Posts: 7721
Joined: Jan 09, 2018
@wantingtoknow With everything on here saying about the MD,s its probably a good idea about eye Dr,s get a 2nd and 3rd opinion are eyes are so important to us . I would if this was me .
@wantingtoknow With everything on here saying about the MD,s its probably a good idea about eye Dr,s get a 2nd and 3rd opinion are eyes are so important to us . I would if this was me .
I agree with you! I’m 34 and I’m worried that a laser is going to impact my vision for the rest of my life. I’ve been reading so many forums online (like this one) that say that people are having huge visual issues due to the placement of the hole. Why aren’t more drs looking at this? It’s terrifying.
lioness
@lioness
@lioness
Posts: 7721
Joined: Jan 09, 2018
Thank you! I am. I went for my normal annual exam on Dec 14th and saw a glaucoma specialist on Jan 2. He was so quick and just casually was like “yeah so we’ll schedule you for surgery.” I understand that they know what they’re looking at, but I’m thinking that they’re just so quick to say you need surgery. I’m not sure.
@jkres007 I agree when a Dr cant take the time to explain to you and they are in such a hurry it does make you question them let me know when you have other opinions Good luck hopefully another Dr will have something better to say fingers crossed for you
lioness
@lioness
@lioness
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Joined: Jan 09, 2018
cherriann
@cherriann
@cherriann
Posts: 121
Joined: Sep 01, 2016
Glad to read your positive experience with the laser procedure – it eased my nerves a bit! I am scheduled for laser on my secondary cataract later this month. It developed quite soon after cataract surgery, and have been a little nervous about having the laser treatment. Thank you lioness, I felt better after reading your post. Have been doing some research about how its done, and sounds quick, uncomplicated and simple – I will find out for myself for sure in a few weeks!
@jigglejaws94
@wantingtoknow I'm guessing the reason that he wants to do the iridotomy is because your angles are becoming more narrow? I do know have glaucoma but I do have narrow angles. Two years ago, mine suddenly got worse over a 4 month period and so he strongly suggested peripheral iridotomy. It is my understanding that if you have complete closure of the angles, you have a very short window of time to get treatment before you face the risk of losing your vision. Because I live 2 hours away from the ophthalmologist, I opted to go ahead with the procedure, one eye at a time. If you decide to pursue this, my one caution would be to do your homework on the position of the iridotomy. My first one was at the 12 o'clock position and it left me with a dysphotopsia. The second was done at a temporal position. See my above posts for more detailed info about that.
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