Primary Angle Closure Observed During a House Visit: A Case Treated With Laser Iridotomy

Laser iridotomy (LI) is an effective treatment for patients with pupillary block mechanisms. Here, we report a case of LI performed on a patient with primary angle closure (PAC) and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), who was unsuitable for other treatments due to specific social circumstances. The patient, a 97-year-old female residing in a private nursing home, had a medical history notable only for mild dementia and was wheelchair-bound. She had not undergone ophthalmologic evaluation for over 50 years. The patient presented with intermittent tenderness and redness in the left eye. Therefore, an ophthalmologist visited the nursing home. Examination revealed visual acuity of 20/200 in the right eye and 20/100 in the left eye, IOP of 24 mmHg in the right eye and 26 mmHg in the left eye, no conjunctival hyperemia, shallow anterior chambers, and nuclear sclerosis grade 4 cataracts in both eyes. Fundus examination was challenging due to lens opacity, and both optic nerve papillae appeared pale. Given her history of episodic eye pain and hyperemia, PAC was diagnosed. Treatment options, including eye drops and cataract surgery, were discussed. However, the patient opted for LI due to her advanced age and inability to attend frequent follow-up visits. LI was successfully performed on both eyes during her visit to the clinic. One week post-procedure, IOP decreased to 12 mmHg bilaterally, with no complications. This case demonstrates that LI can be a viable option for managing PAC and high IOP in patients who are not candidates for surgery or eye drops due to social constraints.