| Methods |
Allocation: randomised
Masking: not mentioned
Follow up: 12 months
Centres: 1
ITT analysis: not mentioned |
| Participants |
N = 30 participants (48 eyes)
Diagnosis: Phakic POAG with IOP of 22 mmHg or greater despite maximal medical therapy. These participants had glaucomatous optic disc cupping and glaucomatous visual field changes on Goldmann perimetry.
In bilateral cases right eyes were randomised and left eye received the opposite.
Exclusion criteria: Developmental, aphakic, inflammatory, haemolitic and pseudo‐exfoliative types of glaucoma were not eligible.
Age: 62 years (27 to 77 years)
Race: black
History: not mentioned |
| Interventions |
1. ALT (n = 25 eyes). Technique: 50 micra in the anterior portion of the trabecular meshwork, 0.1 sec of duration, power was adjusted to 800 to 1000mW. 50 burns placed over nasal 180 degrees at first application. If after 3 months the IOP remained high the procedure was repeated at the 180 degrees temporally. Eyes received prednisolone acetate 1% if there was uveitis
2. Full tolerable antiglaucoma medical treatment (n = 23 eyes) ‐ pilocarpine 4% and acetazolamide orally. 4 participants also used timolol |
| Outcomes |
Success criteria: successful control: IOP < 22 mmHg
Improvement: reduction in IOP of 5 mmHg but keeping levels of more than 22 mmHg
No improvement: reduction in IOP of 4 mmHg or less but keeping levels of 22 mmHg or greater
Deterioration: rise in IOP of 5 mmHg or more |
| Notes |
The authors describe the results of each success group |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Unclear risk |
B ‐ Unclear |
