Micropulse diode laser trabeculoplasty -- 180-degree treatment

To evaluate the outcome of 180° micropulse diode laser trabeculoplasty (MDLT) in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

A retrospective review of 40 eyes of 29 MDLT-treated patients with a minimum follow-up time of 6 months. Successful outcome was defined as follows: (i) a ≥20% or (ii) a ≥3-mmHg decrease of intraocular pressure (IOP), no further need for laser- or incisional surgery and the number of glaucoma medication was the same or less than preoperative. These definitions will from now on be referred to as definition one and definition two.

Life-table analysis showed an overall success rate of 2.5% (1/40) and 7.5% (3/40) (according to definitions one and two, respectively) after up to 19 months of follow-up. The average time for failure was by definition one 2.9 months (standard deviation, SD ± 3.5, range 1-12 months) and by definition two 3.3 months (SD ± 3.9, range 1-16 months). There were no intra- or postoperative complications caused by MDLT. Postoperative inflammatory reaction, cells and flare, was scanty.

Our results suggest that 180° MDLT is a safe but ineffective treatment in patients with open-angle glaucoma.