Prophylactic Iridotomy

I met with Dr. Hung this morning. He is just as kind and warm as I could have hoped; he answered all my question in great detail without making me feel rushed at all. As I suspected, I am not in imminent danger of glaucoma (like, in the next few days), but I am headed in that direction. He wants me to get the laser procedure in both eyes (not on the same day, though), as a preventive measure. What they do is make a microscopic drainage hole near the top of the iris, so that if the usual drainage channel down at the bottom of the eye does get closed off, the new hole can drain the fluid so pressure doesn't build up. (It's not the tears and tear ducts that are involved; this is the aqueous humour inside the eye.) He likened it to a sink where the faucet is always on; if the drain gets blocked somehow, there's that extra hole at the top of the sink to take care of the overflow. He said the laser procedure takes only about 3 minutes and he's performed it hundreds of times. So I'm awaiting a call back from his scheduling person to set it up. I just wish I could lie down for the procedure, because even today for a pretty straightforward exam I got light-headed and dizzy in the chair. I am not the bravest soul when it comes to such things.

Comments

[Susan Barr]

Well, what a blessing that you're attending to it now and not waiting for it to get worse! It sounds like you've got the right doctor - I'm sure it will go well.

[James]

I had to look into this procedure when I had iritis a while back. It is straightforward and I'm sure you'll have no problem with it. Here's to this being behind you and no longer a worry!

[Karen]

I'll drink to that! (which may be the only way I get through my anxiety about the procedure anyhow! ;-) )