Argon vs diode laser trabeculoplasty.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of diode laser and argon laser trabeculoplasty in a randomized prospective study of 11 paired fellow eyes.


METHODS
Fellow eyes of 11 patients, having had no prior laser trabeculoplasty and requiring laser trabeculoplasty to lower intraocular pressure, were randomly assigned prospectively to diode laser trabeculoplasty in one eye and argon laser trabeculoplasty in the other eye.


RESULTS
In the diode laser group, the average baseline intraocular pressure was 21.6 +/- 2.0 mm Hg before trabeculoplasty and 19.6 +/- 2.1 mm Hg (or a 7.7% +/- 11.5% mean pressure reduction) at 1 month, 19.3 +/- 2.6 mm Hg (or a 6.9% +/- 13.5% mean reduction) at 2 months, and 19.0 +/- 3.3 mm Hg (or a 2.4% +/- 16.9% mean reduction) at 3 months postoperatively. In the argon laser group, the average intraocular pressure was 24.4 +/- 3.5 mm Hg before treatment and 17.6 +/- 1.7 mm Hg (or a 24.7% +/- 11.4% mean pressure reduction) at 1 month, 16.8 +/- 2.5 mm Hg (or a 26.7% +/- 15.3% mean reduction) at 2 months, and 15.5 +/- 1.2 mm Hg (or a 30.0% +/- 16.5% mean reduction) at 3 months after laser trabeculoplasty. The difference between argon and diode laser intraocular pressure reduction was statistically significant at 1 month (P < .01), 2 months (P < .01), and 3 months (P < .05) after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Argon laser trabeculoplasty appears to be more effective than diode laser therapy in lowering intraocular pressure during the first 3 months after treatment.
Englert
J A
JA
Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Cox
T A
TA
Allingham
R R
RR
Shields
M B
MB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome