[The technic of argon laser trabeculoplasty and its results]

Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) was performed on 130 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma or capsular glaucoma. Three different methods of ALT were employed to determine if the methods itself affects the incidence of immediate postoperative rises in intraocular pressure (IOP). Thirty-five eyes received 100 burns over 360 degrees of the posterior trabecular meshwork; these were categorized as Group 1. Group 2 comprised 77 eyes given 50 burns over 180 degrees of the posterior meshwork. Group 3 consisted of 18 eyes treated with 50 burns over 180 degrees of the anterior trabecular meshwork. The duration of each burn was 0.2 s in Group 1 and 0.1 s in Groups 2 and 3. The power of each burn ranged from 700 to 1000 mW in each group. Immediate postlaser IOP rise was defined as a pressure elevation exceeding prelaser value by 5 mmHg or more. In Group 1 the incidence of IOP rise was 82%; it was 58% after the first session in Group 2, but only 22% in Group 3. A sustained, marked pressure rise was most frequently observed in Group 1 as compared with the other two groups. Other complications, including sustained iritis, peripheral anterior synechiae and hyphema, were seen most frequently in Group 1 and least frequently in Group 3. Successful control of IOP, defined as an IOP of less than 20 mmHg, was achieved in 37% in Group 1, 70% in Group 2 and 56% in Group 3. The follow-up period ranged from 1.5 to 52 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)