Laser Peripheral Iridotomy
Blurry vision, headaches, or sudden eye pain from glaucoma can threaten your sight if left untreated. At Eye MDs of Inland, Dr. Marc Shomer and Dr. Robert Gunzenhauser perform laser peripheral iridotomy to relieve pressure buildup and protect your optic nerve, restoring comfort, preserving vision, and supporting long-term eye health.
Restore Eye Fluid Balance and Protect Your Vision
Laser peripheral iridotomy is a minimally invasive laser procedure used to treat or prevent angle-closure glaucoma. During this treatment, a small opening is created in the peripheral iris, allowing fluid (aqueous humor) to flow between the front and back chambers of your eye. This helps reduce intraocular pressure and prevents sudden glaucoma attacks. Dr. Shomer and glaucoma specialist Dr. Gunzenhauser use advanced YAG and SLT laser systems to perform this procedure safely and comfortably in an outpatient setting.
What Does Laser Peripheral Iridotomy Treat?
Inside your eye, clear fluid called aqueous humor circulates through the front chamber and drains through a narrow angle between the iris and cornea. When this drainage angle becomes blocked, pressure can build up, threatening the optic nerve and leading to angle-closure glaucoma. Laser peripheral iridotomy creates a tiny alternate channel to restore healthy fluid flow and prevent sudden pressure spikes.
This treatment can help relieve or prevent symptoms such as:
- Blurred or hazy vision
- Severe eye pain or headache
- Halos around lights
- Nausea or vomiting linked to eye pressure
- Sudden loss of vision in one eye
Benefits of Laser Peripheral Iridotomy
Prevents Acute Angle-closure Glaucoma
By creating a tiny opening in the iris, this procedure prevents sudden blockages of fluid flow that can cause dangerously high eye pressure. It serves as an effective, preventive measure to protect the optic nerve from permanent damage and preserve your vision.
Minimally Invasive and Quick Recovery
The treatment is performed in-office using advanced YAG or SLT lasers and requires no incision. Most patients experience minimal discomfort and can resume normal activities the same day, making it one of the least invasive glaucoma prevention procedures available.
Highly Precise and Safe Procedure
Laser peripheral iridotomy allows Dr. Shomer and glaucoma specialist Dr. Gunzenhauser to ensure pinpoint accuracy. Using refined laser control, they treat the exact area of the iris needed to restore fluid balance, offering predictable results with minimal risk of complications.
Long-lasting Pressure Control
Once performed, the small iris opening created by the laser remains permanently open in most patients, promoting steady fluid flow and long-term pressure stabilization. This helps reduce or eliminate the need for emergency glaucoma surgery while preserving stable vision.
How is Laser Peripheral Iridotomy Done?
Before the procedure, your eye is numbed with anesthetic drops, and a special contact lens is placed on the surface to help focus the laser. Using a precise YAG or SLT laser, Dr. Shomer or Dr. Gunzenhauser creates a microscopic opening, usually less than one millimeter wide, at the far edge of your iris. This new channel allows the eye’s natural fluid to flow from behind the iris into the anterior chamber, preventing pressure buildup that can lead to angle-closure glaucoma.
At Eye MDs of Inland, every procedure is performed in-office using advanced laser systems with real-time targeting and safety monitoring. As a single-site, physician-owned practice, our doctors offer personalized attention and curate tailored follow-up plans. You’ll leave with a clearer vision and stable eye pressure and feel supported through every stage of your glaucoma care.
Inland Glaucoma Center
Angle-closure and narrow-angle care at our practice is delivered through our dedicated subspecialty division, Inland Glaucoma Center — same building, same surgeons. For glaucoma appointments, call the glaucoma office directly at 909-315-6891.
Helpful reading at Inland Glaucoma Center
Protect Your Sight for Life
Eye MDs of Inland is a trusted, physician-owned ophthalmology practice led by Dr. Marc Shomer and glaucoma specialist Dr. Robert Gunzenhauser, both of whom are trained at the prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. With YAG and SLT laser technology, we provide precise, compassionate care to preserve your optic nerve and protect your vision. Schedule your consultation for laser peripheral iridotomy in Upland, CA, and take the next step toward lasting clarity and confidence in your vision.