Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation with the Diode Laser for Neovascular Glaucoma

Background And Objective: To compare the outcome of transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) using a diode laser with that of TSCPC using an Nd:YAG laser in neovascular glaucoma.

Patients And Methods: The surgical outcome of diode laser TSCPC was retrospectively compared with that of free-running mode Nd:YAG laser (FR-YAG) TSCPC and continuous-wave mode Nd:YAG laser (CW-YAG) TSCPC. Twenty-one eyes of 21 patients in the diode laser group, 9 eyes of 9 patients in the FR-YAG group, and 9 eyes of 9 patients in the CW-YAG group were treated.

Results: The Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis revealed that the probability (mean +/- standard error) of successful intraocular pressure control with diode laser TSCPC at 3 years postoperatively was 47.2 +/- 12.6% per operation and 55.9 +/- 16.3% per eye. Compared with the CW-YAG TSCPC, the diode laser TSCPC had a significantly higher probability of success throughout the follow-up period. Diode laser TSCPC was associated with improvements or preservation of visual acuity in 16 of 21 eyes (76%), and was the best of the three laser sources. Postoperative complications were minor following diode laser TSCPC.

Conclusion: Diode laser TSCPC appears to be as effective as FR-YAG TSCPC and better than CW-YAG TSCPC for treating neovascular glaucoma.