Prevalence of ciliochoroidal effusion after prophylactic laser iridotomy.

PURPOSE: To study the prevalence of ciliochoroidal effusion (CE) after prophylactic laser iridotomy (LI).

METHODS

An ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM) examination was performed before, 2, and 24 hours after LI to investigate the changes in supraciliary-choroidal space after LI in circumference of 38 eyes in 23 chronic primary angle-closure patients. Subjects were divided randomly into two groups based on LI settings: 21 eyes by argon laser (Ar-LI group) and argon combined with yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser in 17 eyes (Ar-YAG-LI group). Ciliochoroidal effusion was observed predominantly in the inferior sector (12 of 12 eyes, 100%) and rare in nasal part of the eyes (4 of 12 eyes, 33%). Ciliochoroidal effusion appeared more often in the Ar-LI group (10 eyes, 52%) than in the Ar-YAG-LI group (2 eyes, 12%). All CE disappeared 7 days after by UBM observation.

CONCLUSIONS

Subclinical CE observed by UBM frequently occurs after LI.