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Effect of diode laser contact transscleral pars plana photocoagulation on intraocular pressure in glaucoma
Author(s) -
Ho Ching Lin,
Wong Edmund YM,
Chew Paul TK
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
clinical and experimental ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 1442-6404
DOI - 10.1046/j.1442-9071.2002.00553.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intraocular pressure , ophthalmology , glaucoma , pars plana , visual acuity , refractory (planetary science) , vitrectomy , physics , astrobiology
Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy of diode laser contact transscleral pars plana photocoagulation (CTPPP) for intraocular pressure (IOP) control in glaucoma and its clinical application. Method : A prospective, non‐randomized hospital‐based pilot study was conducted. Fourteen patients with poor visual acuity (VA worse than 6/60) and medically uncontrolled, refractory glaucoma were recruited, and CTPPP was performed after informed consent. Results : Mean preoperative IOP was 41.0 mmHg (SD 12.6, range 27−70, n = 14). At 1 week postoperatively, IOP was reduced in 12 of 14 (86%) patients to a mean of 28.6 mmHg (SD 15.8, range 3−55, n = 14). This represented a mean decrease of 12.4 mmHg. Mean IOP was 34.0 mmHg (SD 17.4, range 5−71, n = 14) and 31.6 mmHg (SD 13.4, range 5−22, n = 12) at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. The IOP reduction was significant at 1 week ( P = 0.001, paired t ‐test) and at 12 weeks ( P = 0.04, paired t ‐test). The two patients with preoperative pain reported abolition of pain after the procedure. Seven of 13 patients on preoperative antiglaucoma eye drops did not require eye drops postoperatively. Conclusions : Diode laser CTPPP was found to significantly reduce IOP in the majority of patients at 1 week postoperatively, with less but still significant effect at 12 weeks. Its potential application as a procedure for short‐term IOP reduction in medically uncontrolled glaucoma requiring filtering surgery needs to be further investigated.