[Argon laser trabeculoretraction in chronic open-angle glaucoma. Personal results based on 100 eyes]

Argon laser trabeculoplasty (or trabeculoretraction) was used following WISE's technique in 100 cases of open angle glaucoma. The patients, all of different ages, presented with various forms of open angle glaucoma. In some cases, the intraocular pressure had not been normalized by the medical treatment, and in some others, the patients showed drug intolerance. We eliminated the patients whose angle was too narrow to allow photocoagulation. They were examined at regular intervals of 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after therapy. Pressure figures only were considered in the therapeutic follow-up. After 12 months, the mean pressure drop was 7.3 mmHg after 180 degrees trabeculoplasty and 11.43 mmHg after 360 degrees trabeculoplasty, the latter consequently entailing a more considerable drop. Older subjects however showed a greater pressure decrease. We obtained less satisfactory results in cases of exfoliative syndrome glaucoma and pigmentary glaucoma. The important point is that pressure normalization was obtained--in most cases--only if the prior medical treatment was maintained either without any change or lightly reduced. The trabeculoplasty alone reduced ocular pressure in only 3.57% and in 9.09% respectively after 180 degrees and 360 degrees trabeculoplasty. We can therefore conclude from these observations that this technique is only an auxiliary method in open angle glaucomas that do not sufficiently respond to medical treatment.