Laser and surgical management of hyperplastic persistent pupillary membrane

Two patients (50 and 14 years old) presented with extensive hyperplastic pupillary membranes and significant reduction of visual acuity. The patients were treated by surgical excision and sectioning of the membrane using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Although both of the modalities achieved good surgical and functional results, laser treatment should be preferred over surgery because of potential complications associated with the latter.