Angle-closure glaucoma patients may undergo laser peripheral iridotomy as part of their treatment plan or as a prophylactic intervention for those who are at risk of developing the condition.
Angle-closure is the medical term for a narrowing of the eye’s drainage canal that causes an increase in intraocular pressure. This elevated intraocular pressure has been linked to glaucoma, a condition that affects vision by harming the optic nerve. In order to aid in opening the drainage angle and cure or prevent angle-closure glaucoma, a small hole is made in the iris, the coloured portion of the eye using laser radiation. The naked eye cannot see this hole.
The laser therapy seeks to prevent increased intraocular pressure and lower the chance of developing glaucoma-related vision loss. There is a 66-75% possibility of “curing” the problem if the operation is done at an early stage of the disease. It might aid in slowing or stopping the disease’s progression if used later. Advanced conditions could call for laser therapy in addition to medicine and/or surgery.
Iridotomy with a laser is often a fairly low-risk treatment. The most frequent side effect is a brief increase in intraocular pressure. Measurements made before and after the surgery will be used to find this. The severity of the disease affects how likely it is that pressure will increase. Approximately one in 10 people in the early stages of the disease experience some pressure rise. One in three people may be impacted in severe circumstances. A pressure increase could linger for hours or even weeks. If it does, medicine is used to treat it. Additionally, inflammation can develop after laser treatment. Anti-inflammatory drops for aftercare might be administered for a week to treat this.
It is fairly typical to experience a tiny amount of bleeding from the laser hole (within the eye), which can result in hazy vision. This normally goes away in 24 hours.
It is exceedingly unlikely that the operation will result in visual loss or the requirement for immediate surgery (around 1 in 5,000). Please call your ophthalmologist or visit clinic if you experience persistent blurry vision or eye pain.
You should typically apply prednisolone 1% (Pred Forte) eye drops every hour for 24 hours (taking a break during the night), and then as directed, four times per day. Unless otherwise instructed, you should continue to use your regular glaucoma medication in both eyes.
At The Eye Center- Dr. Mahnaz Naveed Shah & Associates our team of eight ophthalmology subspecialists/ eye specialists, eye surgeons who are considered amongst the very best eye specialists in Karachi and in Pakistan, have the diagnostic and treatment capabilities to treat from the simplest to the most complex patients. We work hard to provide our patients with the best possible medical and surgical eye care, in a state of the art purpose built eye care facility. We offer the entire array of medical, laser and surgical treatments to help provide patients the best possible care in the most efficient, safe and ethical manner.
If you need an appointment, please contact us at 03041119544 during our working hours or leave us a WhatsApp message at +923028291799 and someone will connect with you. Walk-in appointments are also available for emergencies. We can also be reached through our web portal on www.surgicaleyecenter.org
