Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation in Keratoplasty Eyes

To assess the outcomes of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation for intraocular pressure (IOP) control in keratoplasty eyes.

Outcomes of micropulse laser treatments of postkeratoplasty eyes were retrospectively reviewed. IOP was assessed with applanation tonometry. Keratoplasty survival was calculated with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Sixty-one eyes in 57 patients received laser treatment; 31 eyes received 1, 21 received 2, 8 received 3, and 1 received 4 treatments. The median follow-up was 21 months (range, 2-35 months). At baseline, the mean IOP was 28 ± 11 mm Hg. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the last treatment, respectively, the numbers of eyes with IOP data were 58, 50, 46, and 38; the mean IOP was 17 ± 7, 17 ± 8, 18 ± 9, and 15 ± 5 mm Hg; the proportions of eyes with IOP ≤ 15 mm Hg were 40%, 51%, 48%, and 55%; and the proportions with IOP ≤ 12 mm Hg were 21%, 29%, 20% and 29%. Six eyes (10%) received subsequent glaucoma filtration surgery. The mean number of antiglaucoma medications used before the initial treatment was 2.7 (range, 0-4) versus 2.2 (range, 0-4) at last follow-up. At baseline, 7 grafts were decompensated and 5 of 54 clear grafts (9%) had endothelial cell density < 700 cells/mm. Graft survival was 94% at 1 year and 81% at 2 years after the initial laser treatment.

Micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation is a noninvasive alternative to glaucoma filtration surgery for IOP reduction in keratoplasty eyes.