Abstract

BACKGROUND Inflammatory glaucoma is still a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma and surgical intervention is always associated with a high risk of failure or reactivation of the inflammatory disease. In this study we prospectively examined the value of transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (TDLC) for the treatment of refractory inflammatory glaucoma.

METHODS 22 eyes of 20 consecutive patients with inflammatory, medically uncontrollable, glaucoma secondary to chronic uveitis/trabeculitis (n = 18), chemical injury (n = 2), episcleritis (n = 1), and necrotising scleritis with inflammation (n = 1) were treated by TDLC. Nine eyes (41%) had had previous failed glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy, cyclocryocoagulation) and 15 eyes (68.2%) had had previous anterior segment surgery. All patients were followed for 1 year after the initial treatment.

RESULTS Within 12 months of the first treatment the intraocular pressure was controlled in 77.3% of all eyes (72.2% of those with uveitic glaucoma). No serious side effects such as activation of the inflammatory process, phthisis bulbi or persistent hypotonia were observed, except one patient with a temporary fibrin reaction. More than one treatment was necessary in 63.6% of the patients. The use of systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibitors was reduced from 68.2% before treatment to 27.3% after 1 year.

CONCLUSION TDLC seems to be a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of inflammatory glaucoma and may become an alternative to trabeculectomy with antimetabolites in uveitic glaucoma. TDLC may become the surgical procedure of choice in treating secondary glaucoma caused by chemical injury and also in scleritis associated glaucoma, using reduced parameters for application.