Neodymium-YAG laser therapy to the anterior hyaloid in aphakic malignant (ciliovitreal block) glaucoma.

In three aphakic eyes and two eyes with intraocular lens implants (five patients, four women and one man, ranging in age from 65 to 76 years) persistent shallow or flat anterior chamber was observed despite multiple patent laser or surgical iridectomies. In each case direct application of the neodymium-YAG laser (3 to 11 mJ) to the anterior hyaloid face resulted in immediate deepening of the anterior chamber. This deepening was sustained in four of the cases. These results confirm previous observations suggesting that the anterior hyaloid can be the locus of abnormality in aphakic malignant (ciliovitreal block) glaucoma. Neodymium-YAG "hyaloidotomy" may be better than penetrating surgery in such cases.