Effectiveness of Argon Laser Peripheral Iridoplasty in the Treatment of Severe Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma

ABSTRACT

We used argon laser peripheral iridoplasty to reduce intraocular pressure[IOP] in acute angle-closure glaucoma[ACG] which is unrelieved by medical and physical treatments and could not be treated by peripheral iridotomy due to edematous cornea and turbid aqueous. Eight of 16 eyes [16 patients] were successfully treated. These successfully treated eyes had a mean duration of angle closure of 4.1 days and 8 unsuccessfully treated eyes 9.2 days. The 6 eyes of 8 eyes with successful reduction of IOP after argon laser peripheral iridoplasty were treated peripheral iridotomy at average 1.7 day later and had deep anterior chamber. After a mean follow-up period of 2 months, 7 of these 8 successfully treated eyes had an IOP less than or equal to 21mmHg. Argon laser pripheral iridoplasty may be successful in treating ACG which is unrelieved by medical and physical treatments and could not be treated by pripheral iridotomy, especially in cases that are recognized and treated soon after onset.