Erbium:YAG laser deep sclerectomy: an alternative approach to glaucoma surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To study and evaluate, prospectively, the effectiveness and the safety of deep sclerectomy when it is performed with the assistance of the erbium:YAG laser in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma.


METHODS
Forty eyes of 40 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma were enrolled consecutively to undergo laser deep sclerectomy. Mitomycin C (0.2 mg/mL for 2.5 minutes) was also used before the superficial scleral flap formation. The follow-up was 24 months for all patients.


RESULTS
The intraocular pressure was significantly decreased by 9.15 mm Hg or 35.1% (from 26.05 +/- 2.55 to 16.9 +/- 3.45 mm Hg) at the end of the follow-up period. The complete and qualified success rates at the end of the follow-up period were 37.5% and 62.5%, respectively. Mild complications such as choroidal detachment, hyphema, and leakage were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the erbium:YAG laser for performing a deep sclerectomy procedure seems to be a safe and relatively effective alternative to the conventional surgical procedure. Further studies and longer follow-up are necessary for the evaluation of the efficacy of this technique.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery; D012599:Sclerostomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin