YAG Iridotomy

 A YAG laser peripheral Iridotomy is performed almost exclusively for patients with narrow angles, narrow angle glaucoma, or acute angle closure glaucoma. YAG Peripheral Iridotomy involves creating a tiny opening in the peripheral iris, allowing aqueous fluid to flow from behind the iris directly to the anterior chamber of the eye. 

The procedure itself is completed with the patient seated at the laser, and requires no sedation. Topical anaesthesia eye drops are instilled, a lens is placed on the eye to better control the laser beam. In general, only a few very brief episodes of slight discomfort are associated with this procedure. However, generally there is no pain involved post operatively. The entire procedure takes only a few minutes.  Your vision will be temporarily blurry after the Laser Iridotomy procedure. The topical anaesthetic drops will blur your vision, and may give you a brow ache or headache. You will require to have someone drive you home after the procedure and you should take it easy the rest of the day 

After your iridotomy, you may notice some blurry vision, mild discomfort, or a foreign body sensation in your eye. These symptoms are usually transient and are gone within a few hours to a few days. 

Possible risks include, rise in eye pressure, bleeding at the laser site, and inflammation; these are usually temporary. Closure of the Iridotomy may occur, requiring retreatment. Extra visual images including bright lights or flashes, or double vision in the treated eye, may rarely occur.