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Efficacy of argon laser trabeculoplasty in aphakic and pseudophakic eyes
A L Schwartz1, M C Wilson, L W Schwartz
1Department of Ophthalmology, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Background And Objective:
This study evaluated the efficacy of argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in patients with aphakia or pseudophakia.
Patients And Methods:
The authors retrospectively analyzed 63 eyes of 63 patients with aphakia or pseudophakia who had uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma and were treated with 180 degrees or 360 degrees ALT.
Results:
The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) before ALT was 25.1 mm Hg (+/- 8.1 mm Hg). Two years after ALT, the mean IOP in the successfully treated group was 15.4 mm Hg. The mean survival time (50% success rate) for all treated eyes was 23 months, and treatment was successful in 34% of eyes at 36 months. Pseudophakic eyes had a better response than aphakic eyes (P = .06), and eyes that had extracapsular surgery did better than eyes with intracapsular surgery (P = .07).
Conclusion:
ALT in aphakic or pseudophakic eyes with uncontrolled glaucoma is a safe, reasonably effective treatment that can delay the need for trabeculectomy.