At Cork Eye Clinic, we are committed to providing advanced, proactive treatments to safeguard your eyesight. Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI) is a highly effective, minimally invasive laser procedure primarily used to prevent or treat narrow-angle glaucoma (also known as angle-closure glaucoma).
Inside your eye, a clear fluid called aqueous humor is constantly produced and drained to maintain a healthy internal pressure. This fluid drains through a microscopic system located in the "angle" where your iris (the colored part of the eye) meets your cornea (the clear front window).
In some patients, this angle is naturally unusually narrow. If the angle closes completely, fluid becomes trapped, causing eye pressure to spike rapidly. This is a medical emergency called an acute angle-closure attack, which can cause severe pain and permanent vision loss within hours.
Laser Peripheral Iridotomy acts as a pressure-release valve. During the procedure, your ophthalmologist uses a highly focused laser to create a microscopic, invisible hole in the outer edge of your iris.
This tiny opening provides an alternative route for the trapped fluid to bypass the blockage, allowing it to reach the drainage angle safely. This equalizes the pressure in front of and behind the iris, opening up the angle and drastically reducing your risk of an acute attack.
LPI is performed right here in the comfort of the Cork Eye Clinic. The entire appointment usually takes about an hour, though the laser treatment itself only takes a few minutes.
We will administer eye drops to constrict your pupil and numb your eye completely. You will not feel pain during the procedure.
The Laser Treatment: You will sit comfortably at a machine similar to the one used during your routine eye exams. Your doctor will place a special contact lens on your eye to keep it still and focus the laser.
As the laser pulses, you may see brief flashes of light and feel a mild snapping sensation or a slight "pop," but it is generally well-tolerated.
Recovery from LPI is remarkably quick, and most patients resume their normal routines the very next day.
Your vision may be temporarily blurry, and your eye might be slightly red or light-sensitive. You may also experience a mild headache. You will need someone to drive you home.
We will prescribe mild anti-inflammatory eye drops for you to use for a few days to aid healing and prevent swelling.
Follow-Up: A member of our team will check your eye pressure shortly after the procedure, and we will schedule a follow-up appointment in a few weeks to ensure the tiny opening remains clear and functioning perfectly.
If you have been told you have narrow angles or have a family history of angle-closure glaucoma, proactive care is your best defense.
Contact Cork Eye Clinic today to schedule a comprehensive evaluation.
