Contact transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation for the treatment of refractory pediatric glaucoma

Purpose: To evaluate the success rate of contact diode transscleral cycloph otocoagulation (TSCPC) in pediatric refractory glaucoma. Patients and method: Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients (age range 5 months t o 26 years) with medical and surgical refractory pediatric glaucoma due to primary congenital glaucoma (group 1, 20 eyes) or aphakic congenital glauco ma (group 2. 8 eyes), were included in this retrospective study. All eyes u nderwent one or more TSCPC with the diode laser (Oculight SLX, Iris Medical ) with a minimal follow-up of 2 months. Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) between 6 and 20 mmHg after one or more procedures, with no increase in medical hypotensive therapy, and no progression to another hypo tensive procedure. Results: Mean baseline IOP was 29.4 +/- 7.8 mmHg (range 25 to 60 mmHg) and mean followup was 10.3 +/- 6.9 months (range 2 to 26 months). Success rates evaluated at 6 and 12 months (Kaplan Meier survival curves) were 54.4% and 27.7% respectively, with one-third of the eyes retreated once or more. The se success rates were similar in both groups with a mean baseline IOP decre ase of 38.9 +/- 15.9%. Postoperative uncontrolled hypertony occurred in the first 3 months in 6 (21.4%) eyes, leading to surgical IOP management. Othe r complications were decrease in visual acuity (14.3%), inflammation (25.5% ) and phthisis (3.5%) Conclusion: TSCPC with the diode laser is a disappointing procedure for the management of refractory pediatric glaucoma, with poor mid-term IOP contro l and high incidence of complications including severe uncontrolled IOP inc rease. For these reasons, this cyclodestructive procedure should be conside red as a last resort therapy for patients with refractory pediatric glaucom a.