Update on the subconjunctival THC:YAG (holmium) laser sclerostomy Ab externo clinical trial: a 4-year report.
OBJECTIVE
This is a follow-up report on 103 THC:YAG (holmium) sclerostomies ab externo performed on 87 eyes of 81 patients.


METHODS
The patients received pulse energies of 0.06 to 0.13 J (mean total energy 4.4 +/- 3.3 J, range 0.6 to 17.1 J).


RESULTS
The estimated success rates with or without medication, and allowing a second procedure, were 44% at 2 years and 36% at 4 years. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 29.7 +/- 11.4 mm Hg, and the mean postoperative IOP in the successful patients was 13.6 +/- 4.6 mm Hg (P < .01). Hypotony and iris incarceration were the most frequent early complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Although holmium laser sclerostomy is a relatively straightforward procedure and offers some advantages over standard trabeculectomy in select cases, it currently has a number of drawbacks that limit its use.
Glaucoma Research and Education Group, Glaucoma Research Foundation, San Francisco, CA, USA.
A G
AG
Iwach
H D
HD
Hoskins
J S
JS
Mora
C J
CJ
Dickens
M V
MV
Drake
M M
MM
Gaffney
N
N
Nguyen
P C
PC
Wong
H
H
Tran
A S
AS
Ma
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003228:Conjunctiva; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012599:Sclerostomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome