Argon laser trabeculoplasty as initial therapy for glaucoma
J. V. Thomas, A. El-Mofty, E. E. Hamdy and R. J. Simmons
Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) was used as the initial treatment in 30
eyes of 20 patients with uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma in Egypt. None of
the patients had received previous medical or surgical therapy. The average
reduction of intraocular pressure with ALT alone was 10.1 mm Hg. Medical
and surgical glaucoma therapy was avoided in 83% (25 eyes) of the treated
eyes during an average follow-up period of 7 1/2 months. The data indicate
that ALT can be used as a safe and effective initial treatment for glaucoma
in developing countries where socioeconomic factors make the medical
treatment of glaucoma impractical.
