Argon laser trabeculoplasty controls one third of cases of progressive, uncontrolled, open angle glaucoma for 5 years
G. L. Spaeth and K. A. Baez
William and Anna Goldberg Glaucoma Service and Research Laboratories, Wills Eye Hospital-Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107.
Seventy-eight patients (109 eyes) with progressive glaucoma had argon laser
trabeculoplasty as a substitute for filtration surgery and were then
followed up for a minimum of 5 years. One hundred spots were placed at the
anterior margin of the posterior trabecular meshwork over 360 degrees.
Consecutive cases between 1980 and 1985 were reviewed, 95% of treated cases
being included in the final analysis. Eighty-two eyes had primary open
angle glaucoma. If only the group with primary open angle glaucoma is
considered, the failure rate the first year was 19%. After that, the
failure rate was approximately eight per year. At the end of 5 years, 65%
of all eyes had failed. At the end of 10 years, data were available on 84
of the original 109 treated eyes; in 80 treatment had failed, and four were
still receiving medical therapy.
