[Argon laser trabeculoplasty for open angle glaucoma--a four year follow-up]

79 patients (105 eyes) with uncontrolled open angle glaucoma underwent argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT). The average pressure drop was 10.7 mmHg in 58 eyes at one year, 10.1 mmHg in 35 eyes at two years, 9.9 mm Hg in 48 eyes at three years and 10.2 mmHg in 24 eyes at four years. Teh mean success rate was 78%, failures occurred in the first six months in 21 of 23 eyes, the remaining eyes failed at three years, 18 eyes (17%) required filtering surgery. Average medication scores varied little from year 1 through year 4, 45 eyes (42.9%) were being treated with few medications after ALT. The results of ALT depend on the severity of glaucoma: the eyes with advanced disc damage (C/D greater than 0.9, visual field less than 20 degrees) had 59% rate of filtering surgery, while the eyes with C/D 0.6-0.8, visual field greater than 20 degrees at ALT had a filtering surgery rate of 3%.