Transscleral contact krypton laser cyclophotocoagulation for treatment of glaucoma.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the usefulness of the krypton laser for transscleral contact cyclophotocoagulation.

METHODS

Transscleral contact krypton laser cyclophotocoagulation was performed in 62 eyes of 57 patients with therapy-resistant glaucoma. A minimum follow-up for 6 months was obtained for 59 eyes. The krypton laser was delivered via a fiberoptic probe with compression of the sclera by the probe. The energy used was 4 to 5 J per application at the tip of the probe with an exposure time of 10 seconds.

RESULTS

The intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased from the baseline mean of 34.8 +/- 11.0 mmHg to 20.4 +/- 8.3 mmHg within 10 days, to 22.6 +/- 12.5 mmHg at 1 month, to 21.3 +/- 11.3 mmHg at 3 months, and to 20.9 +/- 9.1 mmHg at 6 months postoperatively. Intraocular pressures of 8 to 24 mmHg were obtained in 62% of the eyes at 1 month, 60% at 3 months, and 73% at 6 months postoperatively with one or more cyclophotocoagulations but no other hypotensive procedures. The corresponding success rates after 6 months were 82% for eyes in which the procedure was performed to preserve vision and 50% for eyes in which the procedure was performed to relieve pain. No clinical signs of scleral injury or cyclodestruction-related loss of vision were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Krypton laser cyclophotocoagulation appears to be an effective and well-tolerated means of lowering IOP in therapy-resistant glaucoma. An advantage of the method is that standard retinal krypton photocoagulators can be used for the procedure.