Argon laser iris photocoagulation to relieve acute angle-closure glaucoma.

Two patients, a 67-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, suffered acute attacks of angle-closure glaucoma. After standard treatment methods had failed, argon laser iris photocoagulation was used to relieve the attacks. In one case the argon laser photocoagulation relieved the pupillary block, decreasing the intraocular pressure and permitting successful argon laser peripheral iridotomy. In the second case, argon laser photocoagulation broke up the posterior synechiae, decreasing the intraocular pressure.