Hello,
I was diagnosed with narrow angles and advised to get iridotomy in both
eyes. I am farsighted and have ambyopia in one eye.

At the same time I was diagnosed with a cataract.  I am in my late
forties. I went to the opthamologist because I saw glare and starburst
effects around headlights. This effect has been happening for 2-3
months.

I have gotten 2 opinions on the narrow angles. Both recommend the
iridotomy. Only one doctor diagnosed the cataract with a field vision
test I believe and the  other one did not diagnose cataracts with
visual checking though he did concur on the need for iridotomy.

Both doctors implied that perhaps the glare problem could be
effected  by the iridotomy -- saying it might improve that problem.

Perhaps they think I am having subacute attacks?  Perhaps they know
about a relationship between subacute attacks and cataracts?

My pressure is normal at 15.

I found an article by a researcher at Johns Hopkins saying that
iridotomy could lead to cataracts.  Opinions please!  I am scheduled
for surgery. Thanks.

*I am equally worried about worsening the cataracts since I work with
my eyes and have one reading eye

jpena
jpenafilms@yahoo.com

Here is a quote:

DAVID S FRIEDMAN
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287,
USA

While laser peripheral iridotomy appears relatively harmless, one
cannot be certain of the long term safety of this procedure. laser
peripheral iridotomy disrupts the natural flow of aqueous in the eye
and results in significant increase in lens-iris contact.15
Theoretically, this may predispose to a more rapid development of
cataract since less aqueous is in contact with the lens epithelium.
Several studies have attempted to look at this issue, but follow up has
been short, no lens grading system was used, and no acceptable control
groups were studied.16 17 Focal lenticular opacities seen after argon
laser peripheral iridotomy are said not to progress, but once again,
follow up has been short in published reports. The plausibility of
laser peripheral iridotomy being able to cause cataract is supported by
the strong evidence in the literature that trabeculectomy can do just
this in glaucoma patients.18

Laser energy delivered at the time of treatment as well as the altered
fluidics of the eye may have other ramifications including the
hastening of corneal endothelial cell dysfunction. Once again,
researchers looking at specular microscopy have only studied small
numbers of individuals at relatively short follow up.16 19 Argon laser
peripheral iridotomy has been consistently reported to cause localised
transient corneal oedema,17 20 with rare case reports of corneal
decompensation.21 One study documented a higher rate of endothelial
cell loss after argon laser peripheral iridotomy than after YAG laser
peripheral iridotomy.16 Another potential complication of laser
peripheral iridotomy is the development of posterior synechiae
following laser iridotomy.17 Posterior synechiae can both limit vision
in dim environments and make later cataract surgery more challenging.