The corneal endothelium after laser therapy for glaucoma.
Using computer assisted morphologic analysis of central corneal endothelial specular micrographs, we prospectively examined the effects of glaucoma laser procedures on the corneal endothelium. Argon laser trabeculoplasty was performed in 22 eyes of 17 patients. Argon laser iridotomy was performed in 14 eyes of seven patients. Untreated fellow eyes in ten patients undergoing laser trabeculoplasty were used as controls. After one year, no statistically significant difference in cell area, percent hexagonal cells, or shape factor was observed. Our results suggest that argon laser procedures do not pose any long-term hazard to the corneal endothelium.
D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007498:Iris / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000601:surgery