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Evaluation of contact versus non‐contact diode laser cyclophotocoagulation for refractory glaucomas using similar energy settings
Author(s) -
Agarwal Harish C,
Gupta Viney,
Sihota Ramanjit
Publication year - 2004
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.1442-9071.2004.00754.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intraocular pressure , glaucoma , ophthalmology , refractory (planetary science) , contact lens , materials science , composite material
Purpose: To compare the efficacy of contact and non‐contact techniques of diode transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) in patients with refractory glaucoma in a prospective randomized manner. Methods: Sixty eyes with refractory glaucoma were randomly treated with either the contact or non‐contact technique of diode TSCPC and followed up for a minimum of 12 months. A standard protocol of 1500 mW for 2 s per spot, with 40 spots over the entire 360° circumference was followed for all eyes in both groups. Results: The reduction of mean baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) from 44.5 ± 7.4 mmHg to 14.8 ± 1.8 mmHg with the contact mode was not significantly different from that in the non‐contact mode of 41.9 ± 8.8 mmHg reduced to 14.5 ± 1.5 mmHg ( P = 0.34). The probability of IOP survival (<22 mmHg) at 1 year using the Kaplan−Meier plot was better using the contact mode, although the results did not achieve statistical significance. However, the average repeat treatments per eye with the non‐contact mode (1.6 ± 0.7) was significantly higher than with the contact method (1.2 ± 0.6; P < 0.05). Conclusion: Using an energy setting of 3 J per spot, both the contact and non‐contact methods of laser delivery were found to be equally effective in lowering IOP in eyes with refractory glaucoma.