Lasers Burned A Hole In My Eye ~ Iridotomy ~

I recently had my 3rd iridotomy, no I don’t have 3 eyes. Apparently the first hole in my right eye closed, so back to the eye Dr. I went to have it opened back up. Or maybe they just put another hole next to the first, I should of asked. I do know that having blue eyes helps the Dr. see the blood vessels. My Doc says that it makes it easier not to hit a blood vessel when he uses the laser. Yippy! A real bonus for having blue eyes.

If you read my post glaucoma ~ just poke me in the eye or the update then you know that I have glaucoma. To treat my glaucoma I get a procedure called SLT or Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. I don’t have to use expensive and irritating eye drops, at least not yet, hopefully never.

About 6 months ago my Dr. told me my angles are narrow and I should have an iridotomy. My first thought was great another eye surgery. Then I thought, why do I need this. My eye pressure was with-in normal limits for me. Did my angles just get narrow? Or have they always been narrow. Is he (my Dr.) making this stuff up. Is this a new theory put out by the laser companies so they could make more money? I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to have this preventative procedure done. Is it really going to make a difference in my long term eye health and vision?

I  researched everything I could find, and decided  it was probably a good idea (for me) to have the iridotomy done. Remember you should do your own research to see if it is right for you. I may never know for sure if I really needed to have it done, but I didn’t really want to find out the hard way. I also had to remember that with every surgery there can be bad side effects, and in this case the worse thing is I would be blind. I have faith and trust in my Doctors knowledge and skills so I trusted his recommendation.

What is a preventative Laser Iridotomy

Having an iridotomy when you have “narrow angles” is a procedure to help prevent a sudden increase in eye pressure. I think of “narrow angles” kind of like a hose being bent so the water can’t get through. The rapid increase in pressure causes severe pain, and can make you go blind in a matter of hours if not treated.

Laser iridotomy uses a very focused beam of light to create a hole on the outer edge, or rim, of the iris, the colored part of the eye.

My Personal Experience

I’m sitting in the hallway of the laser surgery suite at my eye doctor. My eye has been numbed and I am trying to stay calm. Boy that numbing  medicine burns at first. There are 4 other people waiting as well. We’re all looking at each other making quiet nervous chit chat. All of us seemed to have glaucoma. All of us had been to this room before.

The first person goes in and the door shuts. About 7 minutes later they walk out with a Kleenex in hand. Oh boy, it’s my turn now. I go in and another drop is put into my eye. Then the CONTACT, at least that is what they call it. They put this thing in your eye to hold the lid open and make the part of your eye they need visible. The only reason the contact weirds me out  a little is because I have seen it used on other people in the past. It makes your eye nice and big. You can feel the DR. moving the contact around but it doesn’t really hurt it just feels funny (at least that is my experience).

The next thing you do is put your chin on a chin rest and your forehead against a forehead rest. The assistant holds the back of your head so you don’t pull away or move. I’m always worried I’m going to move my eye in the wrong way and they will zap the wrong part. Thank goodness that has never happened to me yet.

Now my heart starts to pick up speed and I’m thinking let’s just get this thing over with. I stare at the red or was it green light and zap, zap, zap. It’s over.

My Doc puts in another drop, this time a steroid to help with inflammation. I will continue this for 5 days 3 times a day. I stand up and take a deep breath. I’m handed a tissue for my tearing eye and I walk out the door with my post-op instructions.

I suggest having someone drive you. It feels good right after just to close and rest your eyes. I had no trouble with my vision and no real pain just a slight uncomfortable sensation.

To this day, oh gosh, it has been around 3 months since the repeat iridotomy and I’ve had no problems that I’m aware of. My pressure remained the same or lower. My eyes have always been very sensitive to light and glare so I can’t tell if it’s any worse or it’s just normal for me.

My words for you

Always do your own research to find out more about any surgical procedure. Ask your Doctor as many questions as you want and need answered. It’s their job to answer your questions.

Risks

The greatest risk of laser iridotomy is an increase in intraocular pressure. Usually, the IOP spike is transient and of concern to the surgeon only during the first 24 hours after surgery. Encyclopedia of Surgery “iridotomy“

Your physical health can be a factor with how well you will respond to the surgery. Especially if you have diabetes, hypertension, bleeding disorders etc.

Other iridotomy surgery risks include:
Double Vision
Trouble with Glare
Bleeding
Blurred vision
horizontal lines in your vision
loss of vision

I hope this blog and my experience will help you or someone you love be more informed so you can make a better decision. Remember this is my personal experience and your experience can be much different. This surgery in a way is very quick and easy, but can have some very negative outcomes if not done correctly or your body reacts badly.

Feel free to leave a comment about your experience, the good and the bad. I would personally like to know how others responded to their  iridotomy. Your experience may help others make their decision about having this procedure.

Sincerely,

Tamara

Glaucoma_Just Poke Me in the Eye (Update)

I am now 5-months post-op. I had SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) done on my eyes to treat my glaucoma. My recent visit went very well. My pressures are 17 and 18. That is a good thing for me. My field of vision remains normal. How many of you hate that blasted computer field of vision test? For those of you who have done this test you know what I mean, for those who havn’t I will explain. With glaucoma there is a risk of damage to the optic nerve. When there is damage to the nerve it effects your peripheral vision. Put simply, this means you may be able to see straight ahead but you may have vision loss to the sides. To get an idea of what I mean hold your hands around your ears and wiggle your fingers. When you can see your fingers this is your peripheral vision. You can slowly lose this side vision with glaucoma. One way to test your peripheral vision is a computerized test. You click a button every time you see a light. It doesn’t hurt, and it only takes 10 minutes. The thing I think I hate the most is that if I fail it means I have eye damage that can’t be repaired. I hope that day never comes.

I was asked in a comment on my last glaucoma post if SLT works on patients with PDS. At my Dr. visit I asked my Ophthalmologist, Richard A. Weise M.D. at Glendale Eye Medical Group 607 N. Central Ave. Ste. 105 Glendale Ca 91263-1879 if SLT works with this condition. He said SLT was a great option for patients with Pigmentary glaucoma. (Disclaimer: remember you must check out all medical procedures and options thoroughly before choosing a treatment that will work for you).

What is PDS (from Wikipedia)

Pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) is an affliction of the eye that, if left untreated, can lead a form of glaucoma known as pigmentary glaucoma. It takes place when pigment cells slough off from the back of the iris and float around in the aqueous humor. This is not what causes problems; however, if the pigment flakes clog the trabecular meshwork, preventing the liquids in the eye from draining, pressure can build up inside the eye. This pressure can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve.

This condition is rare, but occurs most often in Caucasians, particularly men, and the age of onset is relatively low: mid 20s to 40s. Most sufferers are nearsighted.

There is no cure as of yet, but PDS can be managed with eye drops or treated with simple surgeries. If caught early and treated, chances of glaucoma are greatly reduced. Sufferers are often advised not to engage in high-impact sports such as long-distance running or martial arts, as strong impacts can cause more pigment cells to slough off.

Until next time I wish you well,

Tamara

Glaucoma_Just poke me in the eye!

Yesterday was the day of my SLT aka Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. This is a laser procedure on my eyes to keep them from developing eye popping pressure. My eyes won’t actually pop but I would slowly go blind if it wasn’t treated. The pressure damages the optic nerve. The surgery takes only a few minutes and is only mildly uncomfortable. This is the 5th time I have had this done. It keeps me from having to use medicated drops in my eyes on a daily basis. My father has to use the expensive and irritating eye drops 2 times daily and has been for 35 years. I am lucky because this eye problem was diagnosed early because I get regular eye exams. this is one bonus of wearing glasses. I included some information and links that might be helpful to you or someone you love. I feel it is important to spread the word because glaucoma often goes untreated until your vision has been permanently damaged or lost. There is no cure at this time for glaucoma there is only life long treatment.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States.

Often there are no symptoms at first, but a comprehensive eye exam can detect it.

People at risk should get eye exams at least every two years. They include

• African Americans over age 40
• People over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
• People with a family history of glaucoma

Early treatment can help protect your eyes against vision loss. Treatments usually include prescription eyedrops and/or surgery.

Glaucoma can also make your eyes very sensitive to light. This I know first hand. Bright light is very uncomfortabe for me. Here is a link to give you a bit more information on sunglasses and light sensitivity with glaucoma [ a guide to sunglasses ]

Some websites with more detailed glaucoma information

National Eye Institute

National Eye Institute (spanish)

Glaucoma Research Foundation