Laser iridectomy in the management of chronic angle-closure glaucoma

Nineteen eyes of 16 patients (12 men and four women ranging in age from 41 to 75 years) underwent laser peripheral iridectomy for treatment of uncontrolled chronic angle-closure glaucoma (25 to 62 mm Hg). Five of eight eyes (62.5%) with glaucomatous cupping but full visual fields attained postiridectomy intraocular pressures of less than 22 mm Hg with medical therapy. Seven of nine eyes (77.7%) that had both glaucomatous optic disk damage and visual field loss before iridectomy had controlled intraocular pressures with medical therapy after iridectomy. Because laser iridectomy is safer than trabeculectomy, we recommend that it be the initial procedure in the treatment of chronic angle-closure glaucoma.