Effect of a YAG laser iridotomy on intraocular pressure in pigmentary glaucoma
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
- 2Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, ROC
- Correspondence: Shan C Lin MD, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California-San Francisco, 10 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0730, USA; shanl{at}itsa.ucsf.edu
- Accepted 20 May 2002
Pigmentary glaucoma (PG) is characterised by the liberation of pigment from the iris pigment epithelium and its deposition on various anterior segment structures.1 The accumulation of pigment in the aqueous outflow system can result in an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) and eventual glaucoma. Campbell2 proposed that mechanical rubbing between the concave posterior iris surface and the zonular bundles is responsible for the release of pigment granules from the iris pigment epithelium. Laser iridotomy was proposed to eliminate the reverse papillary block mechanism of pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS).3 Using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) laser iridotomy has been shown to alter the iris configuration in PDS patients.4,5 However, the effect of a laser iridotomy on IOP in PG is not clear. Here we present a case of PG with active pigment release, in which substantially lower IOPs were achieved for a short period following a yttrium-aluminium-garnet (YAG) laser iridotomy.
Case Report
A 36 year old male patient was referred from an optometrist for high IOPs and visual field loss in 29 January 2001. We saw this young man on 6 February 2001. He denied any systemic disease or family …
