Neovascular Glaucoma with Diabetic Retinopathy: Trabeculectomy and Nd:YAG Cyclophotocoagulation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We carried out to determine the effectiveness of trabeculectomy and neodymiumYAG (Nd YAG) cyclophotocoagulation in eyes with neovascular glaucoma from diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who had undergone trabeculectomy or NdYAG cyclophotocoagulation from May 1992 to August 1997. RESULTS: The average drop in IOP was 24.6 mmHg in the trabeculectomy group and 17.3 mmHg in the transscleral cyclophotocoagulation group. Success rate was 69.2% in the trabeculectomy group and 21.4% in the transscleral cyclophotocoagulation group. Most common postoperative complication was hyphema (38.4%) in the trabeculectomy group and phthisis bulbi (21.4%) in the transscleral cyclophotocoagulation group. CONCLUSIONS: Trabeculectomy had higher success rate and less serious complications than transscleral cyclophotocoagulation. Transcleral cyclophotocoagulation may be considered as a treatment of neovascular glaucoma in the patients who have severe pain or poor general condition.