[Evaluating the effectiveness and safety of diode laser trans-scleral thermotherapy of the ciliary body as a treatment for refractory glaucoma].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of diode laser trans-scleral thermotherapy (TSTT) in cyclodestruction for refractory glaucoma (RG).

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The proposed cyclodestructive procedure was performed on 87 patients with severe and terminal RG (stages III and IV) at power levels of 0.4-0.5 W with exposure times of 15-25 seconds.

RESULTS

The incidence of severe inflammatory response was less than that after well-known cyclodestructive procedures. The average reduction of intraocular pressure at the first day after surgery (considering all observations) was 10.45 +/- 7.23 mmHg. In all cases after TSTT of the ciliary body the pain resolved within the first day.

CONCLUSION

The effectiveness of the new method is comparable to that of other methods of cyclodestruction, however, the proposed TSTT technique is much safer than the conventional trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation.