Endozyklophotokoagulation bei der Behandlung des Glaukoms

Abstract

Cyclophotocoagulation is the standard cyclodestructive procedure for treating patients with refractory glaucoma. In addition to transscleral cyclophotocoagulation, endoscopically controlled cyclophotocoagulation (ECPC) is a relatively new method, introduced in the 1990s. Its clinical and technical background is outlined in this article. ECPC allows direct visualization of the ciliary body and better control of the applied laser energy. Therefore, ECPC has been described as being more effective and safer than the transscleral approach. Our own retrospective ECPC data, however, do not indicate that this method can sufficiently decrease intraocular pressure. The indication for the invasive procedure of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation is therefore questionable.