Intraocular pressure reduction after argon laser trabeculoplasty in open‐agnle glaucoma

Abstract

One hundred and twenty-eight eyes of 113 pre-surgical patients with open-angle glaucoma, treated with 360-degree orgon laser trabeculoplasty, were followed up for 24 months. Success was defined as an intraocular pressure below 23 mmHg as well as an intraocular pressure reduction of at least 20% with the same medical therapy as given before laser treatment, or less. The total success rate was 64%. In 79 eyes with capsular glaucoma the success rate was 76%, whereas in 49 eyes with simple glaucoma it was 45%. The success rate increased in groups with higher degrees of trabecular pigmentation, probably an effect of a higher proportion of eyes with capsular glaucoma in these groups. Baseline intraocular pressure had no influence on the success rate. No correlation was found between the amount of laser energy delivered and the degree of pressure reduction after 6 months. Neither was there any significant difference in laser energy levels between eyes showing successful results and those regarded as failures at the end of the 2-year follow-up period.

The effects of different energy levels in argon laser trabeculoplasty

“…In contrast, the only other report that concerns the longer duration of 0.2 seconds used power settings of 0.99 W with 0.1 second ALT and 0.44 W with 0.2 second ALT, (achieving approximate energy levels of l0.SJ and 9.33 J, respectively), and found no difference in their effects (Blondeau et al 1987). The fact that the energies delivered in the 0.2 second group in this survey, both groups in Blondeau et al3 series and the reported value of 11.4 J in another study using purely 0.1 second ALT (Bergei 1986) are all similar whilst the 0.1 second group had a considerably lower value, may imply undertreatment in the latter group. However, Rouhiainen et al (1987) reporting the results of lowpower ALT (up to a maximum energy of only 3.0 J) found an overall success rate (defined as an IOP fall of at least 3 mmHg to a level < 21 mmHg) of 33%, whilst the 0.1 second group in the current study (excluding eyes with an initial IOP <21 mmHg) had a success rate of 49% (24 of 49 eyes) using the same criteria.…”

Primary argon laser trabeculoplasty vs pilocarpine II: Long‐term effects on intraocular pressure and facility of outflow

“…For PALT this is in accordance with earlier findings (BergeH 1984(BergeH , 1986; Bergei 8c Svedbergh 1992).…”

Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty in Capsular Glaucoma

“…Similar observations have been reported elsewhere (Heijl 1984, Traverso et al 1987. The pigmentation of the trabecular meshwo1 k appears to be of importance for the long-term effect of ALT, the success rate increasing with an increasing degree of pigmentation (Bergei 1986b).…”

“…He found, by analysis of C O V~I iance, that the change of IOP after ALT was highly dependant on the baseline pretreatment IOP but found no significant influence by the exfoliative material per se or the degree of trabecular pigmentation (albeit the presence of pigmentation was a pre-requisite). The pigmentation of the trabecular meshwo1 k appears to be of importance for the long-term effect of ALT, the success rate increasing with an increasing degree of pigmentation (Bergei 1986b). The pigmentation of the trabecular meshwo1 k appears to be of importance for the long-term effect of ALT, the success rate increasing with an increasing degree of pigmentation (Bergei 1986b).…”