Laser iridotomies in Asian eyes

Argon laser iridotomy and Nd:YAG (Neodymium: Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet) iridotomy are the two established techniques of laser iridotomies. However, in the thicker and more heavily pigmented Asian irides, they are associated with higher complication and failure rates. A third iridotomy technique that is recently described is the sequential argon-YAG laser iridotomy. Here, both the argon and Nd:YAG laser are used serially at the same sitting to achieve a patent iridotomy. By using the argon to make the initial bore and the Nd:YAG laser to complete the perforation, the technique is able to effectively combine most of the advantages of both lasers whilst avoiding their disadvantages. It is possibly the ideal iridotomy technique to use in the Asian irides.