laser for narrow angle glaucoma

WHY AN IRIDECTOMY  (=HOLE IN THE IRIS) ?  
 
 
The eye is a hollow sphere, the pressure must be kept stable. This is done by a gland that produces fluid in the posterior chamber. This fluid is removed around the lens to the anterior eye chamber. Certain people (especially hyperopia, they have smaller eyes than normal) the drain doesn't go so well, as with the age the lens swells (because of beginning cataract). Fot those people it may be a solution to make an extra connection between the anterior and posterior chamber, via a hole in the iris. With the laser they can make that hole easily without operating. This will benefit the eye pressure. 

(normaly the eye pressure is between 10 and 20 mm Hg).
 
  * Special case: When implanting hard contactlenses in the eye, the normal drainage of fluid around the lens can be hindered. Therefore it is better to make a hole in the iris preventive.

     HOW :

-    When you arrive, they will give you a miotic eyedrop (mostly both eyes).
  -    You will sit on a microscope
  -    A contactlens will be placed on your eye to enlarge the image of the iris. You won't feel this because your eyes are numbed with eye drops !
  -    With bright light pulses (they can dazzle you the first moment) the laser will make small holes in the iris. This is painless (you can only feel little shocks). The treatment takes +- 2 minutes.
  -    After the treatment you will be blinded the first minutes. Afterwards your vision will be blurred for some hours because of the dilated pupils and because of a little bit of blood in the eye (what is almost unavoidable when you make a hole)
  -    You have to use (1 week long) Icol eyedrops 4 X/d, to inhibit inflammation.
  -    A controle (after 1 day and after some weeks) is necessary to evaluate the hole. When it is not big enough we will possibly do an additional treatment. If you feel pain of significant reduction of your vision you need to contact the doctor.   
  PRECAUTION 

All anticoagulants (such as aspirine / asaflow/ marcoumar / sintrom /marevan)  best be stopped 7 days before . If this is difficult, it is not absolutely necessary !