TRANSSCLERAL NEODYMIUM-YAG LASER CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION FOR END-STAGE GLAUCOMA, REFRACTORY GLAUCOMA, AND PAINFUL BLIND EYES

We used transscleral Neodymium:YAG laser cyclophotocoagulation (TSYLCC ) to treat 47 patients (47 eyes) with end-stage, refractory, or absolu te glaucoma. The mean pretreatment intraocular pressure (IOP), 40.5 +/ - 10.8 mm Hg, decreased a mean of 13 +/- 8 months following treatment to 15.6 +/- 10.6 mm Hg, a statistically significant change (P < .05). Our overall rate of success (final IOP less-than-or-equal-to 25 mm Hg, with or without medications) was 79% (37 eyes). Early complications i ncluded pain (11 eyes) and inflammation (13 eyes); late complications included hypotony (7 eyes), high IOP (5 eyes), and decreased visual ac uity (4 eyes). TSYLCC seems to be a safe, effective, and convenient ou tpatient procedure.