SEMICONDUCTOR TRANSSCLERAL DIODE CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION

Purpose Ciliary photocoagulation was used to reduce pressure in eyes w ith refractory glaucoma zn or to suppress pain in blind painful eyes. The efficiency of transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) with a cl inical diode laser system (Iris Medical Instrument, Oculight SLX) was evaluated. Methods This diode laser system (wavelengh : 810 nm) provid es light energy to the eye through a designed quartz glass fiberoptic probe allowing precise location centered 1.2 mm behind the limbus i.e. in front of the ciliary body. Thirty eight eyes in 38 patients with r efractory glaucoma underwent TSCPC with the diode laser. Results Three months after surgery, intra-ocular pressure was controlled at 20 mmHg ol below in 70 % of the patients. Patients who most failed with the T SCPC had higher initial IOP (neovascular anti congenital glaucoma). Se venty five percent of the painful glaucoma were painless after the las er treatment. Only a few cases (10 %) of transient secondary hypertony were observed. The inflammatory response (21 %) was mild and transien t. No case of scleral perforation, MO case of posterior uveitis, carar act or hypotony were observed. Conclusion The transscleral ciliary pho tocoagulation laser diode system is efficient to reduce intraocular pr essure in refractory glaucoma. Complications are mild compared with ot her methods of cyclophotocoagulation. A long-term study is necessary t o evaluate the results on IOP and the incidence of hypotony.