Laser Peripheral Iridotomy

[lunallena]

Dear Doctor Hagan III- I don't know if you will be in this forum, at any rate, I want to thank you very much for answering all my questions. You were incredibly helpful and made me feel a lot better.Thank you so much.
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To the Doctor in this forum: This is a continuation of questions regarding an iridotomy that I had done a few months ago in my right eye.

1. Could there be any complications that can result 10, 20 or 30 years from now due to the laser peripheral iridotomy?  Have any studies been done where patients were followed this long of a period?

2. Are there any restrictions that one should be aware of after having an iridotomy? These are the ones that come to my mind-
x rays? Complicated dental work(root canal/implants)? diving? swimming?, scuba diving?  going on a plane? getting into wild rides in an amusement park/roller coaster/etc..? visiting a place in the world where the altitute is very high above sea level?

3. In my particular case-the iridotomy was done only in my right eye as a preventive measurement due to narrowing angles. Later I found out that my grandmother lost vision in one eye(not sure which eye)around her late 70's or early 80's. I am assuming that she had narrow angles which eventually came to a complete closure. I understand that Glaucoma is bilateral.  W ould I also get narrow angles in my left eye? Would I develop glaucoma in the left eye with an opened angle?

4. OUT OF GREAT CURIOSITY-
Doctor Hagan III explained to me that in theory the iridotomy creates a sencond image because it acts as a pin-hole camara. Some people don't see the image because the brain didn't notice it or suppressed it-My brain is a stubborn one-and I am still seeing an arc line in my visual field-hopefully it will get better with time. Having said that-I know someone about 65 years old who had an iridotomy done without any visual complications.  I heard from a doctor that as one ages one does not see the arc line because of drooping eyelids. I am 40 years old and although age is inevitable I am not looking forward to drooping eyelids. At any rate- if this is true -I am extremely curious to know from your medical perspective. a) what happens to the eye that somehow the drooping eye lid cancels out the "arc line"  image  from the patient's visual field?

Once again. I thank you for your response.

[lunabud]

join us in prevent blindness america forum. discussing irirdotomies

[lunallena]

Dr. Hagan III:

I understand.  You were very helpful and you did answered my main concerns regarding the LPI. Thank you very much.

[lunallena]

Dear Kg17

Thank you for your comment. I hope you have solved your problem. I know that your case was more severe since it happened in both eyes. Keep in touch. I ll try to do the same.
Thank you.

[kg17]

The "droopy" lid can eliminate the "arc" by covering the iridotomy hole that is allowing the extra light to enter the eye.  You can achieve the same effect by use of a dark-tinted cosmetic contact lens.  If the iridotomy is excessively large (as in my case), you could opt to have the iridotomy hole sutured smaller (invasive surgery with risks).

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I regret that I must end this discussion thread. You will need to get further information from your personal Eye MD or if you are "unhappy" then get a second opinion. I cannot answer all the questions as it is.

JCH III MD