Laser Eye Surgery for Narrow Angle Glaucoma

Diabetes Complications and other Conditions
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Another inherited disease
Narrow Angle Glaucoma

I am now set up to have Laser Peripheral Iridotomy. surgery for Narrow Angle Glaucoma. My eye test from last year was fine and I had my normal eye exam in August and she said I needed to see the specialist and she would not be dilating my eyes.

I just saw the specialist and I have 80% closure in both eyes, so the surgery is set up for January. Only one eye was showing to be a significant problem back in August. Normal pressure levels in my eyes for now. It is surprising how fast it happened, but he said it is an inherited disease and people that are farsighted are at higher risk and more prone to it as you get older. He described it as a clogged sink that is still slowly draining.

If your eyes are dilated with this condition you can set off an acute closure attack, as when the eyes are dilated they expand and can close off all drainage. It is inherited but this type of glaucoma is not directly connected with diabetes. This surgery usually permanently solves the problem, sometimes in a few over time it slowly comes back, but he said by the time if it did, because of my age, I would probably be having cataract surgery which also solves the issue as it allows drainage because of the lens being removed.

But he said it is an inherited genetic disease and likely someone else in the family has had this condition or will have it. I get yearly complete exams because of my diabetes, this disease can have a fast onset. Kind of scary if you’re not getting regular check ups.

Supposedly a very easy surgery, I could walk out and drive home. No pain. But steroid eye drops for 4 days after, which, oh goody, they affected my dog’s blood sugar and I am really sensitive to steroids, but they are needed to keep down swelling after.

Narrow Angle Glaucoma
There is a short video that shows it.

Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI)
For Narrow Angle Glaucoma
The treatment of narrow angles and narrow-angle glaucoma.

Narrow-angle glaucoma (also known as angle-closure glaucoma) occurs when the angle between the iris and the cornea in the eye is too small. This causes the iris to block fluid drainage, increasing inner eye pressure. LPI makes a small hole in the iris, allowing it to fall back from the fluid channel and helping the fluid drain.

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Luckily I don’t have glaucoma at the moment, this will prevent it. The condition is called narrow angle glaucoma because it will close off and sometimes pretty quickly. That is confusing I hadn’t thought about that. But mine are still draining just slower than normal.

I’m glad yours went well, that’s always good to hear!

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My father had it done on both eyes 2 years ago, at different times a few weeks apart. He did not have glaucoma, cataracts were maybe affecting it, but they were not bad. He had angles closed enough they were worried. It went well. He had some blurry vision but he can see a bit better now than before he says. They said this will avoid needing cataract surgery now for a long time probably. I don’t know about driving. They said he needed a driver there and back and would not be able to drive which was true.

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Thanks @meee, it’s always nice to hear good results!

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