title: Factors associated with visual acuity loss after noncontact transscleral Nd:YAG cyclophotocoagulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the factors associated with visual acuity loss following transscleral Nd:YAG cyclophotocoagulation (TYC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors retrospectively studied 479 patients followed for a mean of 22 months after the initial TYC in one eye and analyzed the data with univariate and multivariate analysis for the factors associated with visual acuity loss. Data analyzed included age, race, sex, preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual acuity, type of glaucoma, total energy per treatment, number of retreatments, final IOP, and duration of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preoperative factors associated with visual acuity loss after TYC as determined by both univariate and multivariate analysis were neovascular glaucoma (p = 0.001, odds ratio = 2.80) and black race (p = 0.044, odds ratio = 1.67). Postoperative hypotony and follow-up of > 6 months were also associated with visual acuity loss (p < 0.001, odds ratio = 6.68 and p = 0.046, odds ratio = 2.61, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transscleral Nd:YAG cyclophotocoagulation is associated with a greater risk of visual acuity loss in patients with neovascular glaucoma and in the black population. Postoperative hypotony is associated with a poor visual outcome, whereas the association with longer follow-up duration suggests that other factors, related to the patient's underlying disease, are also significant factors.
authors.affiliation: Joseph M. Bryan Glaucoma Clinic, Duke University Eye Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Allingham
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012590:Sclera; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity