Can angle-closure glaucoma be prevented?
A laser procedure, known as a peripheral iridotomy, can be done. A small hole is made in the edge of the iris to create a new drainage path for the eye fluid. The hole is about the size of a pinhead, and is often placed in the upper part of the iris so that it cannot be seen under the eyelid. Once this is done, it is very rare to have an angle-closure attack. How is the laser iridotomy performed? You will come to the clinic an hour before the laser treatment for a pressure check and to have several drops put in your eyes. One drop, pilocarpine, will make your pupil smaller and will help to stretch your iris to make it easy for the laser to go through. Pilocarpine can cause a slight aching in your brown area (headache). The other drop, apraclonidine, will help to keep the pressure within your eye down during and after the treatment. The laser treatment will be done after the drops have been in your eyes for about an hour. You will sit at a machine that looks like the slit lamp microscop
