Next Steps

Follow-up

Because you may experience temporary increases in IOP after an iridotomy, your IOP is checked 1 hour after laser treatment. A visit is then arranged for the next day. At this visit, your eye is examined, and your IOP is checked again. Your other eye will probably be examined at this time, so your eye doctor can determine if it is at risk for angle-closure glaucoma and possibly prevent its occurrence.

You should continue using the medicines that were chosen to treat the acute attack of glaucoma for 1 day after leaving the hospital or clinic following the iridotomy; after 1 day, you may stop taking these medications. To help reduce any inflammation, your ophthalmologist may also prescribe drugs called corticosteroids for 1 week following your surgery.

If a laser iridotomy is not successful in reducing the pressure, your ophthalmologist may repeat the gonioscopic examination to rule out the presence of peripheral anterior synechiae. If peripheral anterior synechiae are found, you may need a laser gonioplasty or a surgical iridotomy. Your eye doctor will discuss the next appropriate step in your treatment plan with you.