Skip to main content
PMC home page
The British Journal of Ophthalmology logoLink to The British Journal of Ophthalmology
. 1988 Apr;72(4):263–269. doi: 10.1136/bjo.72.4.263

Therapeutic limitations of argon laser trabeculoplasty.

A I Fink 1, A J Jordan 1, P N Lao 1, D A Fong 1
PMCID: PMC1041429  PMID: 3378022

Abstract

Sixty-one patients (82 eyes) were studied after argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) to determine the lasting efficacy of such treatment. This investigation, now in its fourth year, was prospective, and the information derived was analysed with the aid of a computer. Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) below baseline (22 mmHg). The mean follow-up time was 24.5 months, when the success rate was 74% compared with 75% at three months. Success declined to 45% at 42 months. No significant difference was noted when (a) first lasered eyes of all patients and those fellow eyes treated were analysed separately, (b) when right and left eyes were analysed separately, nor (c) when patients were divided into two treatment groups, (I) 100 burns at 1 W, and (II) 65 burns at 850 mW. Eight of 11 eyes showed progressive postlaser field loss despite below-baseline intraocular pressures. ALT is an alternative to carbonic anhydrase inhibitor therapy, with a success rate of 66.7% at two years. However, repeat ALT was successful in only 25% of patients seven months after treatment.

Full text

PDF
263

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alvarado J. A. Laser photocoagulators for glaucoma research and therapy. Arch Ophthalmol. 1984 Nov;102(11):1604–1605. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1984.01040031294010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brown S. V., Thomas J. V., Simmons R. J. Laser trabeculoplasty re-treatment. Am J Ophthalmol. 1985 Jan 15;99(1):8–10. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)75858-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brubaker R. F., Liesegang T. J. Effect of trabecular photocoagulation on the aqueous humor dynamics of the human eye. Am J Ophthalmol. 1983 Aug;96(2):139–147. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)77780-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Ellingsen B. A., Grant W. M. The relationship of pressure and aqueous outflow in enucleated human eyes. Invest Ophthalmol. 1971 Jun;10(6):430–437. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Fink A. I., Jordan A. J., Bunke A., Fong D. Argon laser trabecular surgery as an alternative to carbonic anhydrase therapy. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1982 Apr;102(Pt 1):125–128. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Fink A. I., Jordan A. J. Laser trabeculoplasty and decay effects in glaucoma patients. J R Soc Med. 1984 Feb;77(2):97–101. doi: 10.1177/014107688407700204. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Gaasterland D., Kupfer C. Experimental glaucoma in the rhesus monkey. Invest Ophthalmol. 1974 Jun;13(6):455–457. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Greenidge K. C., Spaeth G. L., Fiol-Silva Z. Effect of argon laser trabeculoplasty on the glaucomatous diurnal curve. Ophthalmology. 1983 Jul;90(7):800–804. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(83)34479-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Grierson I., Lee W. R. Changes in the monkey outflow apparatus at graded levels of intraocular pressure: a qualitative analysis by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Exp Eye Res. 1974 Jul;19(1):21–33. doi: 10.1016/0014-4835(74)90068-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Horns D. J., Bellows A. R., Hutchinson B. T., Allen R. C. Argon laser trabeculoplasty for open angle glaucoma. A retrospective study of 380 eyes. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1983;103(Pt 3):288–296. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hoskins H. D., Jr, Hetherington J., Jr, Minckler D. S., Lieberman M. F., Shaffer R. N. Complications of laser trabeculoplasty. Ophthalmology. 1983 Jul;90(7):796–799. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(83)34485-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Johnstone M. A., Grant W. G. Pressure-dependent changes in structures of the aqueous outflow system of human and monkey eyes. Am J Ophthalmol. 1973 Mar;75(3):365–383. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(73)91145-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Knowles H. B., Jr Joint contractures, waxy skin, and control of diabetes. N Engl J Med. 1981 Jul 23;305(4):217–219. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198107233050409. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Krupin T., Kolker A. E., Kass M. A., Becker B. Intraocular pressure the day of argon laser trabeculoplasty in primary open-angle glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 1984 Apr;91(4):361–365. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(84)34279-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Levene R. Lasers and glaucoma. Ann Ophthalmol. 1984 Jun;16(6):520–521. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Lunde M. W. Argon laser trabeculoplasty in pigmentary dispersion syndrome with glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol. 1983 Dec;96(6):721–725. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)71913-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Nesterov A. P., Batmanov Y. E. Trabecular wall of Schlemm's canal in the early stage of primary open-angle glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol. 1974 Oct;78(4):639–647. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)76302-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Pohjanpelto P. Argon laser treatment of the anterior chamber angle for increased intraocular pressure. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1981 Apr;59(2):211–220. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1981.tb02981.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Pohjanpelto P. Late results of laser trabeculoplasty for increased intraocular pressure. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1983 Dec;61(6):998–1008. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1983.tb01487.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Pollack I. P., Robin A. L., Sax H. The effect of argon laser trabeculoplasty on the medical control of primary open-angle glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 1983 Jul;90(7):785–789. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(83)34487-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Rodrigues M. M., Spaeth G. L., Donohoo P. Electron microscopy of argon laser therapy in phakic open-angle glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 1982 Mar;89(3):198–210. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(82)34806-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Rosenbloom A. L., Silverstein J. H., Lezotte D. C., Richardson K., McCallum M. Limited joint mobility in childhood diabetes mellitus indicates increased risk for microvascular disease. N Engl J Med. 1981 Jul 23;305(4):191–194. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198107233050403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Schwartz A. L., Love D. C., Schwartz M. A. Long-term follow-up of argon laser trabeculoplasty for uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 1985 Oct;103(10):1482–1484. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1985.01050100058018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Schwartz A. L., Whitten M. E., Bleiman B., Martin D. Argon laser trabecular surgery in uncontrolled phakic open angle glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 1981 Mar;88(3):203–212. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(81)35048-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Schwartz L. W., Spaeth G. L., Traverso C., Greenidge K. C. Variation of techniques on the results of argon laser trabeculoplasty. Ophthalmology. 1983 Jul;90(7):781–784. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(83)34488-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Starita R. J., Fellman R. L., Spaeth G. L., Poryzees E. The effect of repeating full-circumference argon laser trabeculoplasty. Ophthalmic Surg. 1984 Jan;15(1):41–43. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Thomas J. V., Simmons R. J., Belcher C. D., 3rd Argon laser trabeculoplasty in the presurgical glaucoma patient. Ophthalmology. 1982 Mar;89(3):187–197. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(82)34807-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Van Buskirk E. M., Pond V., Rosenquist R. C., Acott T. S. Argon laser trabeculoplasty. Studies of mechanism of action. Ophthalmology. 1984 Sep;91(9):1005–1010. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(84)34197-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Watson P. G., Grierson I. The place of trabeculectomy in the treatment of glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 1981 Mar;88(3):175–196. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(81)35051-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Weinreb R. N., Ruderman J., Juster R., Wilensky J. T. Influence of the number of laser burns administered on the early results of argon laser trabeculoplasty. Am J Ophthalmol. 1983 Mar;95(3):287–292. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)78295-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Wickham M. G., Worthen D. M. Argon laser trabeculotomy:long-term follow-up. Ophthalmology. 1979 Mar;86(3):495–503. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(79)35492-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Wilensky J. T., Jampol L. M. Laser therapy for open angle glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 1981 Mar;88(3):213–217. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(81)35047-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Wilensky J. T., Weinreb R. N. Early and late failures of argon laser trabeculoplasty. Arch Ophthalmol. 1983 Jun;101(6):895–897. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1983.01040010895007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Wise J. B. Long-term control of adult open angle glaucoma by argon laser treatment. Ophthalmology. 1981 Mar;88(3):197–202. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(81)35049-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Wise J. B., Witter S. L. Argon laser therapy for open-angle glaucoma. A pilot study. Arch Ophthalmol. 1979 Feb;97(2):319–322. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1979.01020010165017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The British Journal of Ophthalmology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES