As a 74-year-old man with spasmotic tortacolis, will my uncontrollable head tremors increase the chances of an unsuccessful outcome during my laser trabeculoplasty procedure?
JUN 16, 2017
Question:
I am tentatively scheduled for a laser trabeculoplasty procedure on both eyes because of minor damage due to glaucoma. I am a 74-year-old man, with spasmotic tortacolis. Will my uncontrollable head tremors increase the chances of an unsuccessful outcome? In your opinion is it even a good idea for me to proceed with this eye surgery, or would eye drops be a better option for me?
Answer:
As long as head positioning in the slit lamp is possible, I don’t think spasmotic tortacolis should be an issue. If you are uncomfortable, the procedure can be safely paused for a few minutes. If you do experience some spasms in your neck muscles, a bit of gentle support from behind usually provides superb stabilization and safety. And because you may have difficulty tilting your head to apply medication, laser trabeculoplasty may even be more effective than drops.