ABINTERNO PULSED DYE-LASER SCLEROSTOMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS OF A NEW TECHNIQUE

Ab interno gonioscopic laser sclerostomy in conjunction with iontophor etic staining of the sclera was performed on 12 patients with end-stag e glaucoma in order to ascertain the feasibility of the technique. In 9 of 12 patients (75%) a visible sclerostomy was formed and mean intra ocular pressure (IOP) dropped from 36.3 mmHg prior to treatment to 25. 3 mmHg at 1 week, a fall of 30.3%. The drop in IOP was maintained thro ughout a 3-month follow-up period, with 6 of 11 patients having IOP co ntrolled below 21 mmHG. The procedure is described together with our p reliminary results, and possible advantages and areas of improvement f or the technique are discussed.