title: Neodymium YAG and dye laser iridotomy--a comparative study.
abstract: A prospective, randomised study compared Neodymium:Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd:YAG) and dye laser iridotomy in 100 eyes of 61 patients for the relief of pupil block glaucoma. Nd:YAG laser iridotomy was accompanied by less severe complications at the time of iridotomy--failure to produce full-thickness iridotomy, post-laser hypertensive response, bleeding, dissemination of pigment throughout the anterior chamber and posterior synechiae formation--than the dye laser. Nd:YAG laser iridotomy initially achieved relief of pupil block in all the eyes undergoing this procedure. However, the overall success rate of Nd:YAG iridotomies over the 3 months' follow-up period fell to 78 per cent due to inability of small iridotomies to relieve pupil block (4 eyes), and closure of iridotomies by iris pigment epithelial proliferation (3 eyes) and/or stromal healing (3 eyes). In patients with narrow angle glaucoma severe, and in cases prolonged elevations of intraocular pressure occurred following iridotomy with both lasers. Significant lens damage occurred in 5 eyes following dye laser iridotomy.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Wishart
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hitchings
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000209:etiology; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006988:Hyphema / Q000209:etiology; D007498:Iris / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological