title: Neodymium: YAG laser iridotomies--short-term comparison with capsulotomies and long-term follow-up.
abstract: This study addresses three aspects of anterior segment Nd:YAG laser treatment--acute endothelial damage, as assessed by endothelial specular photomicrography (ESP), acute and long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) changes, and long-term iridotomy patency. The acute ESP and IOP changes in 26 eyes (21 patients) after Nd:YAG laser iridotomies were compared to 39 eyes (37 patients) after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. Similar endothelial damage occurred in both groups, although less damage was noted in the group of 9 eyes in which capsulotomies were undertaken in the presence of an intraocular lens. In a parallel study 53 eyes (44 patients) were followed for a mean of 83 weeks (19 months) from the time of Nd:YAG iridotomy. There were no late closures and no late rises in IOP. The level of acute IOP rise after treatment did not predict long-term IOP. We conclude that Nd:YAG iridotomy is an effective procedure in the long-term, and that both iridotomy and capsulotomy are accompanied by noteworthy acute endothelial changes and intraocular pressure rises.
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Canning
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capon
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Sherrard
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kerr Muir
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cooling
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007498:Iris / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications