Clinical Results of the Q-Switched Nd-YAG Laser Iridotomy

In order to evaluate the effect of Q-switched YAG laser iridotomy to the intraocular pressure, we performed the Q-switched Nd-YAG laser iridotomy in 39 eyes of 28 patients with angle closure glaucoma. Postoperative difference of the intraocular pressure was 27.5 +/- 27.0mmHg and the intraocular pressure was reduced. After 2 months, 12 eyes had needed one kind of anti-glaucomatous medication, 7 eyes had needed no medication, 6 eyes had needed two medications and 1 eye had needed three medications. Postoperative complications were iris bleeding(10 eyes), transient pressure rising(9 eyes), focal corneal opacities(2 eyes) and closure of iridotomy(2 eyes). These result shows that laser iridotomy should be considered in the management of angle closure glaucoma.

Effect of YAG Laser Iridotomy on IOP in Chronic Angle-closure Glaucoma

The effect of YAG laser iridotomy on intraocular pressure was investigated in 24 eyes of 19 patients with chronic angle-closure glaucoma prospectively for 3 months. In most cases(75%) the intraocular presure was reduced and the mean amount of reduction was 4.33mmHg. The amount of pressure reduction has no significant correlation with the extent of peripheral anterior synechiae and visual field loss. This result shows that laser iridotomy should be considered in the management of chronic angle-closure glaucoma irrespective of the extent of peripheral anterior synechiae and visual field loss and some amount of intraocular pressure reduction may be expected after laser iridotomy.