Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.
A laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) is a procedure that creates a tiny opening in the outer part of the iris. The opening gives eye fluid a new path from behind the iris to the front chamber. This reduces iris bowing and can open the drainage angle when pupillary block is part of the problem. LPI is used for narrow angles, angle-closure risk, and iris bombe. It is usually done in the clinic with numbing drops.
read more about iridotomy laser peripheral ...LPI is done to reduce the risk of angle closure or to treat angle closure when pupillary block is involved. In a narrow-angle eye, fluid can get trapped behind the iris and push the iris forward, which narrows or closes the angle. Creating a small iris opening helps equalize pressure between the back and front of the iris. After an acute angle-closure attack, LPI is often part of the plan to reduce repeat risk. A clinician can also recommend LPI as a preventive step when exams show a very narrow angle.
The visit starts with drops to numb the eye and, in many clinics, drops to lower pressure before the laser. A special contact lens is placed on the eye to focus the laser and steady the eyelids.
Most side effects are short-lived, but it helps to know what can happen. Mild blur, light sensitivity, and a scratchy feeling can occur for a day or two. A small amount of bleeding from the iris can happen during the laser and usually stops quickly. Some people get a temporary pressure rise, which is why pressure checks matter after the procedure. Glare, halos, or a line of light in the peripheral vision can occur, and the risk can relate to the size and position of the opening.
Call an eye doctor right away for severe eye pain, sudden vision loss, or intense nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can signal a pressure spike or another urgent issue. Contact the clinic if redness and light sensitivity keep getting worse after the first day. Also call if the eye feels very swollen or if headaches do not ease. If symptoms feel unusual or escalating, getting checked is the safest move.
Most people feel pressure or a quick sting, but the eye is numbed with drops first. Bright light from the laser is common and can feel intense. A mild ache or headache can show up afterward and often fades within hours. If pain is strong or keeps building, a same-day check is worth it.
Blur often lasts a few hours because of drops, mild inflammation, and light sensitivity. Some people feel back to normal by the next morning. If blur is still strong after 24 to 48 hours, the clinic often checks pressure and looks for inflammation. Any sudden drop in vision should be treated as urgent.
Yes, closure can happen in some cases, especially when the opening is very small or inflammation is active. This is one reason follow-up visits matter after LPI. If the opening closes, a repeat laser treatment is sometimes needed. A clinician can confirm patency at the slit lamp.
Some people notice glare, halos, or a streak of light, especially when the iridotomy sits near the visual axis or is large. Many symptoms fade as the brain adapts, but persistent symptoms should be discussed at follow-up. Placement and size choices are part of risk reduction. If visual symptoms are disruptive, the clinician can check the iridotomy and rule out other causes.
1. Laser Peripheral Iridotomy. EyeWiki. https://eyewiki.org/Laser_Peripheral_Iridotomy. Accessed January 29, 2026.
2. Pupillary Block. EyeWiki. https://eyewiki.org/Pupillary_Block. Accessed January 29, 2026.
3. Laser Iridotomy. Glaucoma Research Foundation. https://glaucoma.org/treatment/laser-iridotomy/. Accessed January 29, 2026.
4. Iridotomy Decisions for the Narrow Angle. American Academy of Ophthalmology EyeNet. https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/iridotomy-decisions-for-narrow-angle. Accessed January 29, 2026.
5. Visual Disturbances After Temporal Laser Peripheral Iridotomy. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (ARVO). https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2561301. Accessed January 29, 2026.