Long-term follow-up of argon laser trabeculoplasty for uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma
A. L. Schwartz, D. C. Love and M. A. Schwartz
Between May 1978 and October 1981, 82 phakic eyes in 72 patients with
uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma underwent 360 degrees argon laser
trabeculoplasty. Continued long-term follow-up has shown a decreasing
pressure-lowering effect. The peak pressure lowering was 9.7 mm Hg at two
months, 7.3 mm Hg at two years, 6.8 mm Hg at four years, and 4.9 mm Hg at
five years. In 1982, we reported a 77% success rate, but, after five years
of observation, the success rate is 46%. However, our clinical population
is unique in that the majority of our patients (57%) are black. The most
important factor in the long-term success rate appears to be race. Only 32%
of cases involving black patients were successful, while 65% of cases
involving white patients were successful. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve
analysis revealed that the median time to an intraocular pressure greater
than 21 mm Hg was 12 months for black patients and 60 months for white
patients.