Prospective evaluation of the argon laser treatment of trachomatous trichiasis

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of argon laser photocoagulation for the treatment of trachomatous trichiasis. Methods: This report presents a prospective, non-masked study of 22 patient s (36 eyelids) with trachomatous trichiasis treated with the argon laser. E ach abnormal lash was treated with a beam of 50- to 200-micron spot size, f or 0.2 seconds, and 1 to 1.2 watts power. In 30 lids (83.3%) infiltration a nesthesia was used and in 6 lids (16.7%) no anesthesia was used. Results: Successful treatment with no evidence of recurrence was achieved i n 55.5% of lids after one laser session. The remaining 44.5% of the lids re quired two or three sessions. The final success rate of the method was 88.9 %. No complications were observed. The mean follow-up time was 10.6 months. Conclusion: Argon laser photocoagulation is an effective and safe method fa r the treatment of trachomatous trichiasis. (C) 2000 Japanese Ophthalmologi cal Society.