iridotomy

DEFINITION of iridotomy

Laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) uses a laser (e.g., Nd:YAG or argon) to perforate the peripheral iris, allowing fluid to bypass the pupil and reach the anterior chamber, thus opening the drainage angle. It treats primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), acute angle closure (AAC), narrow angles, and secondary causes like uveitis.

• Iridectomy: Surgical removal of iris tissue (historical precursor to LPI).
• angle-closure glaucoma: Condition treated by iridotomy due to iris blocking drainage.​
• Pupillary block: Mechanism relieved by creating a bypass hole.​
• Plateau iris: Configuration where iridotomy may not fully open the angle.

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ETYMOLOGY of iridotomy

greek “iridotomy” derives from “irido-” (from Greek îris, rainbow, referring to the iris) + “-tomy” (Greek tomḗ, a cutting, incision). The term was coined in 1818 by Karl Wilhelm Ulrich Wagner from Greek roots for iris (îris) and cut (tomḗ).

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DERIVATIONS of iridotomy

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Query functionality

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Med roots Appendix A Prefixes Appendix B Combining Forms Appendix C Suffixes Appendix D Suffix forms