[Treatment of refractory glaucomas by transscleral cyclophotocoagulation using semiconductor diode laser. Analysis of 50 patients followed-up over 19 months].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of transscleral cyclophotocoagulation with the diode laser for refractory glaucoma with respect to intra-ocular pressure, reduction of medical therapy and complications.

METHODS

The diode laser system (Iris Medical Instrument, Oculight SLX) was used to treat 50 eyes of 47 patients with therapy resistant glaucoma and a poor prognosis with filtering surgery. All eyes had maximal hypotonic therapy and 40 (82%) patients were using carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Laser energy was delivered to the eye through a quartz glass fiber optic probe [13 to 20 spots over 270 degrees using 3.5 J (1.75 W x 2.0 sec)]. The mean follow-up was 19.4 +/- 9.1 months (from 12 to 29 months).

RESULTS

Intra-ocular pressure significantly decreased from mean baseline 32.4 +/- 9.1 mmHg to 19.7 +/- 8.1 mmHg at the end of the follow-up (p < 0.001). An intra-ocular-pressure below 20 mmHg was obtained in 66% of the eyes. In 13 patients the carbonic anhydrase inhibitors were discontinued. Six of the 8 painful eyes had pain relief. Visual acuity decreased in 17 (34%): cataract progression in 5 eyes, uncontrolled intra-ocular-pressure in 4 eyes, glaucoma progression despite controlled intra-ocular-pressure in 3 eyes, corneal dystrophy in 3 eyes. Chronic uveitis occurred in 5 (10%) eyes. No conjonctival, scleral or direct lens damage was detected.

CONCLUSION

Contact transscleral cylophotocoagulation with the diode laser system can be successfully used to reduce intra-ocular-pressure in therapy resistant glaucoma. The incidence of complications is low with no loss of vision related to cyclodestruction.