Early and late failures of argon laser trabeculoplasty.

Sixty-five eyes in 52 patients with open-angle glaucoma were treated with argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT). Although a majority of the eyes showed a decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP) of 5 mm Hg or more, eight eyes required filtering surgery within one year of treatment, and extensive peripheral anterior synechiae and persistent elevation of IOP developed in an additional two eyes that did not undergo surgery. In four of six eyes with juvenile glaucoma that were treated with ALT, complications developed and/or filtering surgery was required. A rise in IOP more than a year after treatment was noted in two eyes that had shown an initial satisfactory response to ALT. Although ALT seems to be a valuable addition to glaucoma therapy, the potential exists for both early and late complications and failures.