RESULTS OF GLAUCOMA THERAPY WITH DIODE-LA SER CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION

To assess the clinical effectiveness of glaucoma therapy with diode la ser cyclophotocoagulation, 106 eyes (51 eyes with primary open-angle g laucoma, 22 eyes with secondary glaucoma, 10 eyes with narrow-angle gl aucoma, 23 eyes with other glaucomas) of 87 patients were treated. Usi ng a diode laser coupled with a fiberoptic probe, ending in a focusing tip, all eyes were treated with 24-30 spots over 360 degrees and 2.8- 3.6 J of energy, 1.5 mm posterior to the limbus. The intraocular press ure was obtained over a period of time until 8-24 months after operati on. Additionally, morphological changes of the ciliary body were obser ved in 25 eyes by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy. Results: The IOP decreased from a baseline mean of 25.0 +/- 5.7 mm Hg to 17.6 +/- 5.3 m m Hg directly after operation and increased slightly to 18.0 +/- 6.0 m m Hg in the following 24 months. Successful control of IOP (IOP consta ntly < 22 mm Hg or pain relief in blind eyes) occurred in 90 of 106 ey es (84.9%). In 23 eyes more than one treatment was given. In 6 eyes an other IOP-reducing operation had to be performed. In 19 eyes slightly elongated intraocular inflammatory reactions were seen, without any se rious complications. The morphological investigations showed in 22 of 25 cases temporary edema of the ciliary body. A temporary detachment o f the ciliary body was seen in 8 eyes. Conclusions: Diode laser cyclop hotocoagulation is an effective and safe procedure to reduce IOP in di fferent types of glaucoma over a long time. Postoperatively, a tempora ry inflammatory reaction of the ciliary body was observed with no corr elation to the degree of reduction of the IOP.