Contact transscleral cyclophotocoagulation in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma: a five-year follow-up.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of contact transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) performed after panretinal photocoagulation and cryoapplication in patients with angle closure neovascular glaucoma. MATERIAL/METHODS: Thirty eyes of 30 patients with angle closure neovascular glaucoma were enrolled (15 women and 15 men, mean age: 55+/-21 years). Diode TSCPC was performed in all patients after panretinal photocoagulation and cryotherapy. Follow-up was 60 months. RESULTS: The mean pretreatment and postoperative intraocular pressures (IOPs) were 39.8+/-12 and 20.6+/-3.6 mmHg, respectively (p<0.00001). The mean number of treatment sessions was 2.4+/-1.5 (range: 1+/-7), with 18 eyes receiving only one treatment. There was a decrease in visual acuity in 3, hyphema in 4, uveitis in 2, cataract in 3, and phthisis in 1 eye. CONCLUSIONS: 1. TSCPC provides long-term control of IOP in patients with angle closure neovascular glaucoma. 2. Laser panretinal photocoagulation and cryoapplication should be considered before TSCPC. 3. TSCPC is associated with numerous complications, hyphema being the most frequent.