Diode laser versus contact transscleral ND:YAG cyclophotocoagulation (CPC): A short-term and mid-term follow-up study

Purpose: To compare the short-term (1 month) and mid-term (6 months) effect of diode and Nd:YAG laser CPC. Methods. We retrospectively studied 60 patients who underwent diode or Nd:YAG laser CPC between 1991 and 1996. Those with at least 6 months follow-up were included in this study. Results. Preoperative intraocular pressure (1OP) was 35.78 + 13.15 mm Hg in diode laser patients and 40.51 + 16.66 mm Hg in Nd:YAG laser patients (P=0.227). The decrease in IOP at 1 month follow-up was 15.89 + 15.57 mm Hg in diode and 20.34 + 15.71 mm Hg in Nd:YAG laser patients. The decrease in IOP at 6 months follow-up was 15.62 + 13.53 mm Hg in diode and 20.03 ±15. 16 mm Hg in Nd:YAG laser patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the decrease of IOP in diode and Nd:YAG laser patients at both 1 month (P=0.283) and 6 months follow-up (P=0.238). There was no statistically significant difference in the change of visual acuity in the two groups at both 1 month (P=0.345) and 6 months follow-up (P=0.461). Conclusion. There was satisfactory decrease in IOP in both diode and Nd:YAG laser patients, but there was no significant difference in the decrease of IOP and the change of visual acuity in both diode and Nd:YAG laser patients.

Duke Scholars

Author Leon Walker Herndon Jr. Ophthalmology, Glaucoma