Inferior corneal decompensation following laser peripheral iridotomy in the superior iris.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a previously unreported clinical entity of inferior corneal decompensation occurring as a long-term complication of superior laser peripheral iridotomy.


METHODS
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.
Lim
Laurence S
LS
Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
Ho
Ching-Lin
CL
Ang
Leonard P K
LP
Aung
Tin
T
Tan
Donald T H
DT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D032801:Iridectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007498:Iris / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors