[Treatment of neovascular glaucoma by anterior retinal cryotherapy and trabeculectomy]

To investigate the efficacy of anterior retinal cryotherapy (ARC) for treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG).

12 eyes (11 patients) with open angle NVG were treated by ARC only, 22 eyes (22 patients) with closed angle NVG were treated by ARC combined with trabeculectomy, and 32 eyes (31 patients) with closed angle NVG were treated by either ARC or cyclocryotherapy as controls. The follow-up period were 6-26 months.

Iris new vessels (INV) regressed or disappeared with normal intraocular pressure (IOP) in 92% (11/12) of the eyes with open angle NVG treated simply by ARC. In comparison with closed angle NVG treated by the same method, there was a significant difference in IOP (P < 0.05). The combination of ARC and trabeculectomy showed markedly better results than either ARC or cyclocryotherapy for treatment of closed angle NVG (P < 0.01). In the eyes with closed angle NVG, INV regressed or disappeared with normal IOP in 86% (19/22), 90% (18/20) achieved a marked relief from pain and the visual acuity was better or unchanged in 67% (8/12) that was significantly different from the eyes treated by cyclocryotherapy (P < 0.05).

The results indicate that ARC is suitable for treatment of NVG at early stage, and ARC combined with trabeculectomy, at later stage.