[Laser treatment for tightening the trabecular meshwork in open-angle glaucoma (trabeculoplasty)]

Forty eyes with medically uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma underwent argon laser therapy through 360 degrees of the trabecular meshwork. The mean pressure change in the treated eyes after two weeks showed a decrease of 9.95 mmHg. Thirty-five eyes (87.5%) were clinically controlled (tension less than or equal to 20 mmHg) either by laser treatment alone (25 eyes) or by continuation of previous therapy (10 eyes) over the various follow-up periods ranging from one to ten months (means = 3.31). Laser therapy showed no hypotensive reaction in five eyes. Increased pressure immediately after therapy seems to be the most severe side effect, which was of short duration in all cases but two.