Postoperative Care

IOP is checked 30 minutes to 1 hour after the procedure to monitor for potential pressure spikes. Steroids are prescribed for approximately 1 week to treat postoperative inflammation associated with tissue disruption and bleeding. Topical hypotensive agents are also used when needed for IOP control. The patient is examined 1–6 weeks after LPI to confirm that the iridotomy is patent and the angle has deepened and to evaluate the fundus. Further evaluation can be considered if the angle remains narrow after iridotomy (see Chapter 9).

• Lam DS, Chua JK, Tham CC, Lai JS. Efficacy and safety of immediate anterior chamber paracentesis in the treatment of acute primary angle-closure glaucoma: a pilot study. Ophthalmology. 2002;109(1):64–70.

Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.