Subconjunctival THC:YAG laser sclerostomy for the treatment of glaucoma: preliminary data.

A subconjunctival thermal sclerostomy was performed using the recently developed THC:YAG laser in 33 eyes with a variety of glaucomas in which, in most cases, neither medical therapy nor previous procedures had been successful in controlling intraocular pressure (IOP). The mean preoperative IOP was 27.5 +/- 7.5 mm Hg with maximum medication. The laser procedure was quick and easy, with minimal manipulation of tissues; complications were clinically insignificant. The day after the operation, 23 eyes had an IOP less than 18 mm Hg; in the other 10, it was unchanged. In most of the eyes, an obvious filtering bleb developed at the site of the sclerostomy. The internal opening of the sclerostomy was visible on gonioscopy, except in five cases, in which it was plugged by a fold of the iris root. One year after the operation, IOP was controlled in three eyes without medication and in 18 with medication. IOP remained uncontrolled in the remaining 12 eyes.