title: Long-term efficacy of low power argon laser trabeculoplasty.
abstract: We studied the long-term efficacy of argon laser trabeculoplasty, applying low-power (a mean of 450 mW), a duration of 0.1 second, and a small number of burns (a mean total energy of 1.85 J) over 90 to 120 degrees of the trabecular meshwork. Fifty-four eyes with poorly controlled open-angle glaucoma were treated. The mean follow-up was 46 months. The mean intraocular pressure decrease was 5.3 mmHg in 35 eyes at one year, 6.1 mmHg in 23 eyes at 3 years, 5.1 mmHg in 13 eyes at 5 years, and 5.4 mmHg in 5 eyes at 6 years. Life-table analysis showed that the probability of success was 58% at one year, 49% at 3 years, and 46% at 5 years. Both the incidence and magnitude of the intraocular pressure rise in the early post-laser period were minimal and no serious complications were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirakashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001128:Argon; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011897:Random Allocation; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D001128:Argon