PRESSURE INCREASE FOLLOWING PRIMARY LASER TRABECULOPLASTY - EFFECT ONTHE VISUAL-FIELD

Possible damaging effects on the visual field of postlaser pressure el evations the first 24 h following primary laser trabeculoplasty were i nvestigated in 61 patients with exfoliative or open-angle glaucoma. Th e intraocular pressure was monitored the first 24 h after treatment. T reatment with pressure reducing agents was started if the intraocular pressure was greater-than-or-equal-to 50 mmHg. The visual field was pl otted before and 1, 3, and 6 months after laser treatment with the C-3 0-2 program on a Humphrey visual field analyzer. Peak pressures greate r-than-or-equal-to 50 mmHg occurred with 15 (25%) patients. There was no relationship between visual field changes at 1 month and pressure i ncrease, peak pressure, prelaser pressure, prelaser visual field indic es, the use of timolol postlaser, or the pressure decrease or pressure level 1 month after laser treatment. From 1 to 6 months after laser t rabeculoplasty the visual field parameters remained stable. Postlaser pressure spikes do not seem to damage the visual field providing they are detected and treated.