Complications

Complication
Timeframe
Likelihood
short term
medium

This complication may be prevented by prompt reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP).

Once it occurs there is no specific immediate treatment.

short term
medium

This complication may be prevented by prompt reduction of IOP.

short term
medium

Between 30% and 41% of patients experience anterior chamber bleeding after LPI.[52]

long term
medium

Between 23% and 39% of patients experience cataract progression after LPI.[52]

variable
high

The fellow eye, which usually shares the anatomic predisposition for increased pupillary block, is at high risk for developing acute angle closure.

An untreated fellow eye has a 40% to 80% risk of developing an acute attack.

It is recommended that the contralateral eye be treated prophylactically with laser peripheral iridotomy if the chamber angle is found to be anatomically narrow.[17][24][49][50][51]

variable
medium

Patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) often present with higher IOP and more advanced visual field loss than those with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).[31] These findings suggest that PACG is a more IOP-dependent disease.

Following successful treatment of acute primary angle closure, there is some evidence that retinal nerve fiber layer thickness significantly decreases within 16 weeks after the attack.[23]

Adequate and prompt treatment with lowering of IOP will reduce the risk for permanent injury to the retinal ganglion cells and axons.

variable
low

Between 2% and 11% of patients report dysphotopsias after LPI.[52]These frequently resolve over time.[74]

variable
low

Between 6% and 10% of patients experience an IOP spike (8-17 mmHg increase from baseline) after LPI.[52]

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