Hi I’ve just recently joined this forum because I’m I need of some advice and support . I have just been diagnosed with narrow angles in both eyes . With no symptoms, no diabetes or hypertension and being told my eye pressures have always been normal , this has come as a bit of a shock to me , during my last optician checkup 4 weeks ago .
Little information was given , so I googled information myself and had a 20 min private consultation assessment yesterday which did not give me anymore information , other than I am a candidate for Iridotomy
No support given just that I’m at risk of acute angle closure , may happen or not anytime .No written info or advice given about operation other than it would be a laser and would take 10 min for both eyes
Here I am today still undecided what to do , having read about it on the internet , Im more anxious now about the condition and the op The consultant couldn’t tell me the nhs waiting list, but could be a year or more Meanwhile , thinking is it urgent and should I go private and find the funds somehow ?
I would’ve very grateful , If anyone could advise / offer me support who has the condition , been through the Iridotomy and post op effects and outcome .This will help me make a decision and hopefully I will not feel so alone and unsupported .
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Prettypaw
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I’m exactly the same as you , though have diabetes and. Pressures raised ..Have narrow angles no, glaucoma .
I was referred in Jan by opticians .
Didn’t get seen till April and only by staff , no consultant , for all the usual tests .
Had to wait a few weeks for the outcome by letter .
Got an appt for a Gonioscopy to check angles in May and was confirmed I had narrow angles and recommended an iridotomy due to having to have eyes dilated for yearly retina screens .
I was told that they don’t now routinely do them for narrow angles ,like they used to, but monitor people , it does depend on how narrow your angles are , optic nerve etc....and other medical factors etc....
So if you just have narrow angles and everything else is fine, then monitoring would be ok for you .
Those that have narrow angles with Glaucoma will be different scenario.
The person I saw gave little info other than printed off a leaflet that I had already read on Moorfields website about iridotomy .
I did say I had read that going into a cinema or theatre can bring on attack and he just said yes that’s right and carried on typing ... so asked what do I do them , go to A&E they are open.....at no point did he explain what to watch out for . ( I had already googled)
I didn’t like my appt really felt like he just wanted to get through the appts as quickly as possible without much interaction .
As a new patient , I wasn’t impressed by lack of info or empathy .
Said it will be about 6 weeks time, it’s been 5 weeks not heard anything .
I have heard mixed things , for some it works, for others not , but then all drops and treatments are like this .
Can work for a short period or long, there’s no definitive answer as depends on the individual ..
Some can have side effects that go away , others permanent , like ghosting , light sensitivity etc... I am scared of that .
So we are in same boat , so feel free to chat to me as we know how each other feels x
I too have narrow angles and as far as I am aware have no glaucoma.
Diagnosed in 1994 when I was 47. Had the iridotomies straight away after diagnosis. Very straightforward - I had no problems afterwards and managed without drops until 2012. My first drops were Latanoprost which didn`t work for me so was given Bimatoprost (Lumigan) then in 2018 was changed to Ganfort a combination of Bimatoprost and Timolol.
I`m now 74 and still have good vision in me left eye and reasonable vision in my right eye.
Right eye not as good as my left but that is nothing to do with glaucoma - that is because in 2011 I had to have a macular hole repair.
I believe that those iridotomies kept my vision good and I feel very lucky that I was diagnosed and treated early.
Thanks Lynne for taking time to reply to me .and sharing your story. I am reassured that you still have lasting benefits from your iridotomies after all these years , so that is a positive. I hope you continue to maintain good vision and yes you are right about being thankful for being diagnosed early and treatment option available . Thankyou
I've had iridotomies in both eyes. I was nervous but it's not a big deal as far as eye procedures go. Apparently they are easier to do on blue eyes or light brown eyes. My irises are almost black, which meant that rather than one laser shot I had a few dozen to create the hole, then I had to go back and have it done again to have them made a little bigger.
In theory it is painless unless they hit a nerve, which causes a wince. With light irises they can see the nerves and avoid them.
In terms of recovery, for a few weeks later I would see an annoying horizontal white shadow/line above my line of sight, but it did eventually disappear.
It's worth getting it done. I never had my angles close up completely, but it is something that really needs to be avoided.
I believe it is possible to stay on pilocarpine as an alternative, but personally I'd choose the op.
Thankyou for sharing your experience and giving me some info and advice . Prevention is better than cure and the side effects are minimal compared to what could potentially happen if I didn’t decide to go for the iridotomies . Just so disappointed in lack of support and info from optician and private consultant .
Hi Prettypaw. I have narrow angles and got diagnosed eight years ago when my optician detected really high pressures (40). I got referred to eye casualty that day and they gave me the Iridotomy in both eyes there and then. It was really straightforward. My pressure remained really high though so it was followed by Iridoplasty where they burn around the iris to create more space. My narrow angles are caused by me having a Plateau Iris. This procedure was also grand and other than a couple of blips in pressures I have been pretty much stable until recently. Sounds like they are happy to do this for you and it would be preventative which would be brilliant. I’d say have it done and then have regular checks. Wishing you all the best.
Thankyou for your reply . That has reassured me about the iridotomies, being quick mostly painless procedure . Unknown how long I will have to wait for the procedure in the nhs . Private consultant said he could carry out the iridotomies in 4 wks time but it costs over £1000 . Money doesn’t grow on trees but maybe In risking waiting and waiting
You’re welcome. Did they give you Pilocarpine drops? I still use these, they make the pupils like a pin head, stops them from dilating naturally as that can take up space and narrow the angles. Sounds like your consultant wasn’t overly informative either which is not good. And now you are having to maybe find money for private. Are you under the care of your local glaucoma clinic? If you do decide to go private you could even consider finding another consultant for another initial consultation. They could maybe start you on drops and give you an opinion of whether you can wait for the procedure, they will know the nhs wait time. A colleague of mine went private and the consultant actually referred her immediately onto his nhs emergency list for a cataract op as her angles had practically closed. You need support and information to help you at this time.
I had irridotomies in both eyes over 20 years ago. Like supafil I have dark brown eyes and needed several holes. I don't recall it being painful at all just like a tigt band being twanged sort of sensation momentarily. Afterwards had a bit of an issue with colours temporarily and pressure but this settled down. Due to angle closure attack in March I now am awaiting cataract surgery to improve the angles. After irridotomies settled I have not been on any drops or other meds in that 20 years and wish that I could have laser treatment instead of cataract surgery. Pilocarpine, timolol/dorzolomide and acetozolomide do not play nicely with my body. I hope you get the treatment you need really soon x
Thankyou for replying to me . I suppose the sooner I get the iridotomies the better . Pressures are at17 and 18 , I think that’s normal . The private consultant said he is not sure how long the nhs waiting list is but I expect it to be long , private about 4 wks but costs over £1000. Not sure yet what to do money vs risk to wait . Hope you get your cataract surgery soon
Yes, I believe those pressures are within the normal range. I was told by hospital that under 20 is OK. When I had irridotomies my pressure was 62! There was a delay in treatment as the laser was out of action. We're you given acetazolamide (Diamox) and Pilocarpine as these help to keep the pressure down and the pupil small? Maybe if you are worried by the possible long delay for treatment it's worth going private if you feel you can afford it. Perhaps it would save you a lot of stress and worry being out of the way?
Hi I had iridotomies in both eyes over twenty years ago, they were done on my first appointment as pressures were so high. All very straightforward and I’m thankful they were done immediately. Been on drops ever since and now having cataract operations in both eyes. We all react differently so it’s really important to ask questions, find out as much as you can and then trust the consultant. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on x
Thankyou for your reply . I will go ahead just not sure if to wait for nhs or go private £1200 . The private consultant said he could carryout both iridotomies in4 wks time . Not sure what to do , it will be the same consultant in the nhs , however he is very abrupt and not much info given about the procedure , post op . . English is not good so hard to understand.
Exactly the same as you, my optician referred me to Royal Eye Infirmary (NHS), had lots of tests. Laser Iridotomy in both eyes is the treatment recommended for me. I assume you have had a batch of tests as well. Came as as shock as well. Told about eight weeks.
Hi. This is the first time I have entered a comment on the site. Your story is very similar to mine and I have struggled after a shock diagnosis of grade 1 narrow angles last Oct. My pressure was OK and I had been sent to the eye because of vitrious detachment symptoms. Fortunately my optician had told me I had the shape of eye prone to closure and therefore they didnt risk dilating my pupils. A week later I had iridotomies in both eyes. Straightforward apart from a bit of bleeding in one eye and lots of drops required after. My follow up was delayed because of Covid but I have now been told I need lens replacement surgery and an angle procedure to try and re shape the eye. The iridotomies haven't opened up the angle enough and I'm still at risk of sudden closure. My pre op is next Thursday and I'm terrified. Left eye first then hopefully six weeks later the right. I was basically told I needed the iridotomies urgently and the hospital were good at getting it done quickly. It's horrible living with the anxiety of thinking closure could happen any time. I won't go away far and constantly worry. Although I'm very nervous about lens replacement I am following the advice of the eye hospital and hoping it will help long term and reduce the risk. I would definitely advise you to go ahead asap with the iridotomies. It seems wrong you have to consider paying. Hopefully iridotomies will be enough to help in your case. I also have very dry eyes and use drops day and night I never thought I would have issues with my eyes. I'm sending you my best wishes as I understand how scared you must be feeling. I hope you can get the iridotomies soon and as others have said it was fine and may be all you need. Stay positive and let us know how get on. I'm trying to stay calm and hope that maybe by the end of this year I'll be in a safer place with my eyes. Best wishes to everyone on this site. It's great to share. Xx
Can I ask did you have the iridiotomy done and what was your experience. I'm 57, have been told I have narrow angles and am booked for iridiotomy. Quite worried.
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