What is Peripheral Iridotomy and how does it work?
Laser peripheral iridotomy (PI) involves creating a tiny opening in the peripheral iris, allowing aqueous fluid to flow from behind the iris directly to the anterior chamber of the eye. This typically results in resolution of the forwardly bowed iris and, thereby, an opening up of the angle of the eye. The narrow or closed angle thus becomes an open angle!
Who is a candidate for Peripheral Iridotomy?
A laser peripheral iridotomy is performed almost exclusively for patients with narrow angles, narrow angle glaucoma, or acute angle closure glaucoma. Aqueous fluid is made in the ciliary body of the eye, which is anatomically situated behind the iris. The aqueous fluid primarily escapes the eye by flowing between the lens and the iris of the eye, and then drains via the trabecular meshwork, which is located in the angle of the eye (where the front clear cornea meets the iris).