In certain forms of glaucoma, the drainage angles of the eyes can get progressively narrow as the years progress, until they eventually become completely blocked. This can lead to very high eye pressure (a condition known as angle closure glaucoma). The eye can become very painful and, if left untreated, can suffer irreversible damage to vision within hours.
With gentle laser iridotomy, a very tiny extra drainage channel can be created in the eye to prevent high pressure from developing.
The treatment is routinely done as an outpatient procedure, typically lasts fifteen minutes, involves no surgical cuts and is completely painless. Whilst there are some minor risks, the benefits of preventing a serious attack of high pressure far outweigh these.