Micropulse Trabeculoplasty in Open Angle Glaucoma

• Main Authors: Diego Alejandro Valera-Cornejo, Waldo Loayza-Gamboa, Julio Herrera-Quiroz, Rosa Alvarado-Vlllacorta, Luis Cordova-Crisanto, Vanessa Valderrama-Albino, Nahuel Pantoja Davalos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
• Series: Advanced Biomedical Research
• Subjects: Diode laser; micropulse; open angle glaucoma; subthreshold; trabeculoplasty
• Online Access: http://www.advbiores.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9175;year=2018;volume=7;issue=1;spage=156;epage=156;aulast=Valera-Cornejo

Background: We report the effect of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) in the intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients with uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Materials and Methods: In this retrospective review, 30 eyes with OAG were treated with a single session of MLT at the Vista Clinic in Lima Perú. We used a 532 nm frequency doubled Nd: YAG laser to 360° of the trabecular meshwork with a power of 1000 mW, 15% of the duty cycle, and 300 ms of exposure. The IOP was measured at baseline and at 1 day, 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment and were followed up for one last control. Results: The mean baseline IOP was 15.6 mmHg and in the last control was 12.8 mmHg, mean follow-up time of 19 months (±10 standard deviation [SD]). The mean reduction of IOP in the 1st day was 1.6 mmHg (±2.6 SD) and 1.2 mmHg (±3.3 SD) in the last follow-up. The mean percentage of IOP reduction was 17.9% and 7 eyes (40%) had IOP reduction >20%. No statistical significant difference in relation to demographic characteristics of the patients. The greatest reduction was achieved in the 1st day with a median of 2.00 (P < 0.001). A tendency to achieve a higher reduction of IOP in patients with higher baseline IOP was found but was not statistically significant. No adverse reactions occurred. Conclusions: MLT slightly reduced the IOP in a few patients with uncontrolled OAG for a very short time and may not be suitable for these patients.