YAG laser peripheral iridotomy (YAG laser PI)
At Peel Vision, we use the advanced TANGO TM SLT/YAG combination laser, a state-of-the-art laser using ultra-low energy levels, ensuring the highest levels of safety and precision.
YAG laser PI is used as a preventative treatment for patients with closed or narrow drainage angles in their eyes, which puts them at risk of sight-threatening acute angle-closure glaucoma.
Click here to read more about closed-angle glaucoma
YAG laser PI is also used to treat patients who have already developed acute angle-closure-glaucoma.
YAG laser PI uses the heat of a focused laser beam to create extra drainage ports in the iris (colored part) of the eye. These ports are usually created in the upper iris of the eye, under the upper eyelid. These extra “back-up” ports will allow the fluid in the eye to continue to flow throughout the eye in the event of acute angle closure, thus reducing the risk of an extreme pressure rise and visual loss.
YAG laser PI is performed in our clinic. It is a safe, quick and relatively painless procedure.
Local anaesthetic eye drops, as well as pupil-constricting and pressure-lowering eye drops are placed in the eye to be treated. The patient is comfortably seated in front of the laser, and their chin placed in an adjustable chin rest. A contact lens is placed in the eye to keep it open and focused during the laser. The laser is applied in short pulses. During the procedure, most patient do not feel any pain, but some may feel a slight discomfort as the laser pulses occur.
The procedure should take only a few minutes to complete. When it is finished, the contact lens is removed. No eye patching is required after laser, but dark glasses should be worn for comfort on the journey home.
This is generally considered a safe procedure, and complications are rare. Most complications are self-limiting or easily treated. These include:
- Transient rise in eye pressure
- Bleeding from the iris (colored part) of eye
- Glare or double-vision in one eye
- Retinal damage from the laser inadvertently going to the back of the eye
Most patients do not experience significant pain or visual blur after YAG laser PI. However, some patients may experience a slight aching discomfort for a few hours after the laser. There may also be a slight increase in sensitivity to light (glare) and transient visual blurring for a few days. Severe pain, glare or visual loss is abnormal, and should be reported to Dr Then immediately.
Dr Then may prescribe mild anti-inflammatory eye drops to be used for up to 1 week after laser, and will check the eye on day 1 and after 1 week to ensure that the eye pressure is satisfactory, and the laser ports are patent and draining.
Any regular glaucoma drops should be continued as normal following laser unless advised otherwise by Dr Then.
YAG selective laser trabeculoplasty (YAG laser SLT)
YAG laser SLT is most commonly used to treat chronic open-angle glaucoma. It is generally used only when eye drop therapy has not been successful in controlling the eye pressure or halting the progress of the glaucoma.
After SLT, most patients will still need to continue using their pressure-lowering eye drops for glaucoma. This is because the laser SLT may not lower the pressure enough to keep the glaucoma controlled. In those patients where eye drops are stopped, more frequent monitoring of the glaucoma is required to ensure that the eye pressure does not rise again.
YAG laser SLT is performed in our clinic. It is a safe, quick and relatively painless procedure.
Local anaesthetic eye drops and pressure-lowering eye drops are placed in the eye to be treated. The patient is comfortably seated in front of the laser, and their chin placed in an adjustable chin rest. A contact lens is placed in the eye to keep it open and focused during the laser. The laser is applied in short pulses. During the procedure, most patient do not feel any pain, but some may feel a slight discomfort as the laser pulses occur.
The procedure should take only a few minutes to complete. When it is finished, the contact lens is removed. No eye patching is required after laser, but dark glasses should be worn for comfort on the journey home.
It may require more than one laser session to achieve adequate pressure control.
This is generally considered a safe procedure, and complications are rare. Most complications are self-limiting or easily treated. These include:
- Transient rise in eye pressure
- Inflammation in the front chamber of the eye
Most patients do not experience significant pain or visual blur after YAG laser SLT. However, some patients may experience a slight aching discomfort for a few hours after the laser. There may also be a slight increase in sensitivity to light (glare) and transient visual blurring for a few days. Severe pain, glare or visual loss is abnormal, and should be reported to Dr Then immediately.
Dr Then may prescribe mild anti-inflammatory eye drops to be used for up to 1 week after laser and will check the eye on day 1 and after 1 week to ensure that the eye pressure is satisfactory.
Any regular glaucoma drops should be continued as normal following laser, unless advised otherwise by Dr Then.
