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See also comment(s) by Garry Condon •
AIMS: To compare the efficacy of pneumatic trabeculoplasty (PNT) and argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) uncontrolled with two topical therapies. METHODS: In a randomized, prospective clinical study, 32 patients received in 1 eye PNT or ALT. RESULTS: At 1 month, in PNT- and in ALT-treated eyes respectively, mean intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased by 3 +/- 2.3 and 5.7 +/- 1.7 mm Hg (12.7 +/- 9.6 and 24.4 +/- 7.4%, both paired t test p < 0.001); 5 and 13 eyes (31 vs. 81%, chi(2) test p = 0.013) had an IOP reduction >or=20%, 7 and 1 eyes had an insufficient effect (IOP >20 mm Hg). Only 1 PNT-treated eye had IOP reduction >or=20% until 4 months. At 6 months, 10 ALT-treated eyes (62.5%) had IOP reduction >or=20%; 15 PNT- and 3 ALT-treated eyes had an insufficient effect (94 vs. 19%, p < 0.001). Transient anterior segment side effects, but not visual field or fundus changes, occurred after both treatments. CONCLUSIONS: PNT is less effective than ALT in POAG uncontrolled with two topical therapies.
Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
12.4 Laser trabeculoplasty and other laser treatment of the angle (Part of: 12 Surgical treatment)
12.20 Other (Part of: 12 Surgical treatment)