Endolaser treatment of the ciliary body for severe glaucoma

Endolaser photocoagulation of the ciliary body was used to treat 42 eyes with severe glaucoma that could not be managed successfully by medical therapy and conventional glaucoma surgery. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 36 months (mean, 13 months). The preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) ranged from 13 to 76 mmHg (mean, 37 mmHg). The postoperative IOP ranged from 1 to 44 mmHg (mean, 17 mmHg), representing an absolute decrease of 20 mmHg, and a mean decrease of 48%. After one or two (7 eyes) treatment sessions, 11 eyes (26%) had an IOP less than 21 mmHg without medications; 21 eyes (50%) had an IOP less than 21 mmHg with medications; 5 eyes (12%) had an IOP of 21 to 25 mmHg with or without medications; and 5 eyes (12%) had an IOP greater than 25 mmHg. Postoperatively, the number of antiglaucoma medications required was reduced from a mean of 2.8 +/- 0.13 to a mean of 1.4 +/- 0.19. Twenty-three (72%) of 32 patients were able to discontinue carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.