Endocyclophotocoagulation as an adjuvant to vitreoretinal surgery in cases with concomitant glaucoma

To evaluate the efficacy of endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP) in patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for vitreoretinal disease with medically uncontrolled glaucoma.

This is a retrospective review of 12 patients who underwent 270° ECP following vitrectomy.

Ten of the 12 patients had excellent intraocular pressure (IOP) control postoperatively, without medication in four patients and with reduced medication in six patients. IOP decreased from 26.3 ± 12.9 to 17.9 ± 6.0 at 1 month (P = .03) and 16.9 ± 4.4 at 3 months postoperatively (P = .02). Best corrected visual acuity was improved by 1 month postoperatively. The number of glaucoma agents decreased from 2.7 ± 1.1 to 1.3 ± 1.3 (P = .03). One patient with neovascular glaucoma developed hypotony. Postoperative inflammation or discomfort did not exceed what was expected for a standard vitrectomy in any patient.

ECP can be effectively combined with vitrectomy; however, ECP produced unpredictable results in the two patients with neovascular glaucoma.