A Comparison of the Responses to Diode and Argon Laser Irradiation of the Iris in Rabbits

ABSTRACT

We compared the effects of diode laser (DL) irradiation of the iris with those of argon laser (AL). Histopathologic examination of laser-induced lesion, measurements of aqueous flare and prostaglandin (PG) E2 were performed. DL was applied in one eye of each animal and the fellow eye received ALwith the same parameters in 49 pigmented rabbits. At 1 hour after irradiation, the mean flare count was higher in the DL-treated eyes than in AL-treated eyes(p0.05). On histopathologic examinations, iris defect by DL was wider and shallower than that by AL. The extent of coagulation of the iris tissue was more extensive in the DL-irradiated iris. Our results suggest that the DL irradiation may be more harmful to the blood-aqueous barrier and iris tissue than AL. Further development of the laser equipment or the treatment regimen for diode laser iridotomy may be necessary.