Glaucoma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Glaucoma, including details on cataracts, surgery, treatment, blindness.

Inferior corneal decompensation following laser peripheral iridotomy in the superior iris.

Lim LS, Ho CL, Ang LP, Aung T, Tan DT

Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.

PURPOSE: To describe a previously unreported clinical entity of inferior corneal decompensation occurring as a long-term complication of superior laser peripheral iridotomy. DESIGN: Retrospective, non-comparative observational case series. METHODS: Chart review of 14 subjects (16 eyes) with inferior corneal decompensation. RESULTS: All patients were Chinese, most were females (71.4%), and the mean age was 69.5 +/- 8.1 year. The mean interval from iridotomy to the onset of inferior corneal decompensation was 66.1 +/- 34.0 months. The most common indication for laser iridotomy was for prophylaxis, either in the fellow eye of acute angle closure (43.8%) or for occludable angles (12.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal decompensation in the inferior part of the cornea at a site remote from the iridotomy is a rare but important complication of laser iridotomy. Because many of the laser iridotomies were performed prophylactically in eyes without glaucoma, patients may need to be warned of this risk.

Published 3 July 2006 in Am J Ophthalmol, 142(1): 166-8.
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